#CharacterInterview – “Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit” by Lyndell Williams

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Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I love talking to romance heroes! 
Let’s get started… 


What’s your name? 

Marcus Kent

What do you look like? 

Because I am over six feet and two-hundred pounds, my younger sister Regina likes to call me “The Wall.” I run and hit the gym during the week to keep fit and muscular. Some people act intimidated when seeing a Black man my size, but I don’t keep it from me living my best life.

What time period does your story take place? 

My wife, Toni and I live in Harlem, NY. She is originally from Connecticut and me from Long Island, but we bought a co-op in the city close to the community concenter I opened. We travel to my parent’s home in Suffolk County. We also will visit Regina in Brooklyn. It’s cool because her husband, Simon is my best friend, but like a lot of people living in Manhattan, I don’t cross the bridge unless it is absolutely necessary.

What is your family like? 

I have two great parents who raised my sister and me to be focused and successful. My mother, Adrian is not for play. She is a strong Black woman, confident and supportive. I got my focus on achieving goals from my dad, Deverill. He also made sure I know that one of my primary responsibilities as a man is to protect and care for the women I love. That is why I was furious when I found out that Simon, who I watched go through women, was dating Regina. I wanted to strangle him.
I have a loyal extended family with my “brothers,” Simon, Adam, Brandon, Faisal and Quinn. Since we first met in law school, I knew I could count on them to be there.

What’s the most terrible thing that ever happened to you? 

Watching Toni get sick to the point that I had to take her to the emergency room ripped into my soul. I have gotten hassled by and slammed on the concrete by police for years, but none of that was as bad as holding her frail body. I will do anything to keep her from feeling that much pain again.

Why do you think your author chose to write about you? 

Lyndell? She loves writing a strong, serving alpha. She made all of us male characters who can stand to resist a ton of social issues, beat down the bad guy and then cuddle with the women with we love. I am her non-Muslim Malcolm X. I won’t stand for any mess, especially when it comes to disrespecting Black women. I think she wanted to show that the possibility of a sensitive and strong man who isn’t afraid of his own vulnerabilities do exist and that some men prioritize the happiness they can give their significant other over their own egos and desires.

What do you wish your author had not told others about you? 

I wish she didn’t reveal some of my vulnerabilities. I get why she did, but it is not always safe for a man to have bare open what those around him may see as a weakness. I have work to do, and sometimes it requires people to know not to mess with me.

What other character from your book do you think your author should write a book about? Care to tell us why? 

I know readers keep hitting her up about Quinn. He is a mystery to the rest of us too. He shows up out of nowhere sometimes, but it is always when he is needed. He finds out stuff before any of us has a chance to tell him, and none of us know where he is from. He just popped up one night when we were fighting some racist bullies. Yeah, I want to know more about Quinn too.


 

Blurb 


Harlem lawyer Marcus Kent fights for justice while preserving a stable, passionate marriage with wife, Toni. Smart and confident, he has it all together—that is until his world turns upside down.


Not only is someone stalking his sister, but an intern at work is also getting too close for comfort.



On top of all of that, Toni’s renewed infertility obsession causes them to continually argue, adding more strain and cooling off their steamy union.


Struggling with insecurities and yearning to have a child, successful psychologist Toni Kent looks to her husband for support. Unfortunately, relentless distraction and stubbornness prevent Marcus from being there when she needs him the most and jeopardizes their happy home.


After multiple failed in vitro attempts, Toni is ready to try again, but Marcus is done. He doesn’t want another headache or more heartache.


Will a baby-making impasse tear this dream couple apart?


From the author of My Way to You, a new novel about keeping the flames of love and passion burning in a world determined to snuff them out.



Excerpt


Marcus sipped some cold coffee from a mug. Toni didn’t do the jealous wife. Probably because he worked his ass off to make it clear she was the only woman who held his interest. Only an idiot would take a good woman like her for granted because there was always another man ready to snatch her up. “What are you doing with the rest of the afternoon?”


Toni shifted in her seat. “Well, I have an appointment with Dr. Algiers.” He slammed the mug down on the desk, making her jump. “Marc.”


He tossed the rest of the burger on the open wrapper. “So that’s what this little lunch visit is about? The in vitro. I thought we settled that.”

“No. We just never talked about it again. I haven’t taken it off the table.”
He rubbed a palm against his aching jaw. “What do you need?”
“I was hoping you would come with me. We can talk some more on the way there.”
He wiped the coffee off his hand and desk. “I’m not doing that. I’ve said all I’m going to about this.”
Toni pushed the stack of files and leaned across the desk–her mouth twisted into a scowl. “Well, I haven’t. I’m ready to start treatments.”
He pinned her gaze. “You do what you want, but I’m not signing up for another fertility sideshow.” It was his turn. He flinched as the stapler crashed through the window. Sounds of the city seeped through the hole it left. “What the hell, Toni?!” The door opened. Marcus glanced up and jabbed his finger. “Out!” Whoever was on the other side never appeared. It closed with a soft click.
Toni’s glare burrowed right into him. “I told you before that this isn’t only about you. What about what I want?” She paced in front of his desk. “I’m there for you, Regina—everybody. When are you and everybody gonna take their heads out of their asses and give a shit about what I want?”
He opened his mouth when the phone went off again. “Son of a—Marcus Kent.”
“Hey, man,” Faisal’s tense voice shot into his ear and plucked the nerves down his spine. “We have a situation.”





Want more? Order a copy of Sweet Love–Bitter Fruit (Brothers in Law, Book Two) today!

Catch up with the series by adding My Way to You (Brothers in Law, Book One) and meet all the brothers in the Brothers in Law short story. 

Author Bio



Lyndell Williams (Layla Abdullah-Poulos) holds a B.A. in Historical Studies and Literature, M.A. in Liberal Studies, and an AC in Women and Gender Studies. She is an adjunct instructor as well as an anti-racism and gender equity advocate. She is the senior New York trainer for the Muslim Anti-Racism collaborative.
Williams is a cultural critic with a background in literary criticism specializing in romance. She has been published in peer-review journals and presented at national conferences about Muslim and interracial romance fiction as well as racism, sexism and the Black Muslim experience.
She is the founder and managing editor of the NbA Muslims blog on Patheos and a cultural contributor for Radio Islam USA. She is a contributor to the online publications About Islam and Haute Hijab.
Williams is the lead content editor WriteType Editorial Services and mentors aspiring writers across genres.
She’s had numerous short stories published in collections and enjoys a growing list of subscribers to her Layla Writes Love online short story series.
Williams self-published her first interracial romance novel My Way to You. The novel made it onto four Amazon bestsellers lists its premiere weekend.
She is committed to the traditional use of literature as social commentary to affect positive social change.
Williams is married and the mother of six children.



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