This is an article that the Michigan City newspaper wrote up prior to a book signing.

8/24/2007 11:11:00 AM

'Passionate' ProjectCity native writes provocative novel on private dancers
Andrew TallacksonThe News-DispatchMICHIGAN CITY -

Omegia Keeys knows her book, "Passionate Playmates," will raise more than its share of eyebrows.After all, the fictional tale, self-published through PublishAmerica, delves into the world of high-priced private dancers, women who indulge male fantasies, yet have little to no physical contact with the men they entertain.Spend just a few minutes speaking with Keeys, however, and you'll find her to be a woman with a playful sense of humor who wants people to take her book seriously, but not too seriously."People who know me from high school know I was serious, but I was also a clown," she said with a laugh. "If they see my name on the book, and this was someone I was cool with, then I don't think they will be shocked at all."Keeys, a Michigan City native and 1993 Elston High School graduate, will discuss her book, and sign and sell copies of it, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at Michigan City Public Library, 100 E. Fourth St.So how did the 32-year-old Keeys have the confidence to write such a racy book?By having the support of a loving family.Keeys was the last of seven children, raised by her mother, JoAnn Johnson-Campbell, a woman she thanks in the forward of "Passionate Playmates.""She is a strong, independent woman," Keeys said of her mother. "She told us not to settle for anything less, that just because we were raised poor didn't mean we had to settle for less."She also admired how her mother kept a family of seven together."My brothers are like comedians," she said. "They were always playing jokes and pranks on each other. It was funny to see how my mom could keep them all in control."At Elston, Keeys ran track all four years - in 1991, she was the 400-meter state champion - and later at Indiana State University, Terre Haute, where she would receive a degree in criminal justice in 1997."Track is a team sport, but really, it was all about me running," she said. "That was the one thing I could do where it didn't matter if we were poor or not."It was my outlet."Now serving full time with the Army National Guard, she's lived in Indianapolis since 2002. She and her husband, Larry, have three children.She began work on "Passionate Playmates" in 2002, but stopped, thinking no one would want to read it. When a friend looked at it, saying she better finish it, Keeys wondered if she was on to something.The book follows the exploits of Erika, a college graduate and single mom unable to find decent work who turns to Passionate Playmates, a private club where she dances for male customers. Calling herself Ecstasy, Erika becomes the most successful attraction there.We meet the other dancers, all from various ethnic backgrounds. In between the detailed descriptions of what these women do for their male customers are photo shoots in the Bahamas, shopping trips and the catfight to end all catfights in a crowded limousine.Keeys did some research on the topic before writing the book."At one point in my life, I was in a fork in the road and thought about doing something like that, but I knew my mother would strangle me," she said with a laugh. "I also know a lot of people who have done it because of their children, a lot of single parents."I wanted to put a different twist (on the subject) and make it a private club. I went to a strip club and actually talked to different people."I also figured I'd just go ahead and push it as far as I can take it."Johnson-Campbell, who still lives in Michigan City, says she was not the first in her family to learn of the book, nor the first to take a crack at reading it. She knows her daughter was unsure what she'd think."Well ... it was a surprise," she said with a laugh. "But I'm not a prude. Yes, I was surprised, but not shocked."I am so proud of her. I am not ashamed at all of what's she written."Told of her mother's reaction, Keeys gushes."My mother is the type of person who doesn't judge anyone," she said. "She would support you no matter what you did."Keeys already is at work on a sequel to "Passionate Playmates" called "seduction.com," focusing on Erika's Web site. But something else, something unexpected has happened. Publishing companies are approaching her to republish "Passionate Playmates" through them.Is she surprised?Definitely."It's all succeeding my expectations right now."