ARTICLE APPEARING ON TRINIDAD NEWSDAY 7th NOVEMBER 2018

TRINIDAD NEWSDAY ARTICLE 7th NOVEMBER 2018

Trinidadian author Brenda Mohammed is making her mark on the literary landscape, both here and abroad.

On October 24, Mohammed was made an honorary member of the World Higher Literary/Academic Council of the World Nations Writers' Union, Kazakhstan.
The author of 18 books, with the 19th in progress, Mohammed said she is the first Trinidadian to achieve such an honour.

She is also slated to receive two awards from the Readers' Favourite International Book Awards 2018, at a gala scheduled to be held at the Regency Hotel, Miami, on November 17. .
The Vistabella mother of two and grandmother of four said she is thrilled by the accolades for her literary works, fiction and non-fiction, written and published over the past six years.
As she is a former bank manager who delved into the insurance industry after her retirement, becoming an author was not on her itinerary. Her plans changed drastically when in 2005 she was faced with a life-changing situation.
Diagnosed with cancer and living to tell her story inspired Mohammed to help others afflicted with the disease to cope.
With no writing experience, apart from work-related documents, Mohammed began documenting her heart-breaking experience of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer and her long and painful journey to overcoming the death sentence.

In time, the essays transitioned into a book, I am Cancer Free: A Memoir, that tells the true story of a cancer survivor, and was published in 2013.

Pretty soon the book, published and available on Amazon, had been read by so many people that it won the McGrath House Indie Book Awards 2016 in the non-fiction category. It also earned a five-star review and five-star seal in February 2017 from Readers' Favorite and is up for the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards 2018 in the health and fitness category.
Encouraged by the rave reviews, the multi-genre writer went on to write six fascinating memoirs, a five-book science fiction series, two children's books, four books of short stories, and one self-help book, How to Write for Success.

The science-fiction futuristic thriller series Zeeka Chronicles: Revenge of Zeeka also won an award for Best Science Fiction in September 2017 from Metamorph Publishing Summer Indie Book Awards, a five-star rating and five-star seal from Readers' Favorite, the gold award in the category science fiction in Emagazine Readers’ Choice Awards 2018 and placed in the top ten for the Author Academy Awards.
It also won the young adult thriller category in the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards 2018.

Of her other books, My Life as a Banker, was awarded for Best Bio/Memoir in Metamorph Publishing Summer Indie Awards 2016 and

Your Time is Now, which contains a section of inspirational poems, received the IHIBRP 5 Star Recommended Read Award Badge.

Mohammed runs a writer empowerment programme called Brenda’s Book Reviews in the How To Write For Success Group endorsed by Motivational Strips.

All Brenda's Books are available on AMAZON. CLICK HERE.

Trinidad Author Brenda Mohammed appointed as Honorary Member of World Nations Writers Union

Trinidad Author Brenda Mohammed was appointed as an Honorary member of the World Higher Literary/Academic Council of the WORLD NATIONS WRITERS' UNION.
She was the first author from Trinidad and Tobago to be given this honour.
She thanks Honorable Poet Kairat Duissenov Parman Founder & President of World Nations Writers Union,Central Asia and
Shiju H. Pallithazheth of Motivational Strips for this honour.
Read the Article at this link. CLICK HERE

Sink your teeth into a thriller this Halloween

Soon it will be Halloween.
Are you looking for a thriller to sink your teeth into?
Set in the year 2036 these unique and terrific stories about a vengeful man named Zeeka, and his zombie creation would keep you on the edge of your seat.
Zeeka Chronicles: Revenge of Zeeka was an Award Winner in the category young adult thriller in Readers Favorite International Awards 2018,
Get it at Amazon. Click Here.

Author Interview with Brenda Mohammed

Interview with multi-genre author Brenda Mohammed
Posted: October 10, 2018 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Author Profile, Books, Fiction, Interview, Memoir, Nonfiction, Science Fiction, Travel, Writing | Tags: Author Interview, Brenda Mohammed, Memoir, Science Fiction, Travel Memoir

Brenda Mohammed Portfolio

I have the pleasure of interviewing independent author Brenda Mohammed today. She is not only a multi-genre author, but a multi-award winning author, who seems to dabble in a bit of everything. She comes from a background in finance, but became an author when she wrote a memoir about her battle with ovarian cancer. Since then, she’s written several other memoirs, as well as a science fiction series, a horror novel and a crime novel, as well as a wonderful self-help book for aspiring authors. She has done so much, and made so many travels, and I’m thrilled to have her share all that with us here, on Writing to be Read. Please give a warm welcome to Brenda Mohammed.

Kaye: When did you know you wanted to be an author?

Brenda: I never planned to be an author. I was a successful Bank Manager for many years. After I retired from the Bank at an early age, I became an Insurance Professional. I loved working in Finance and helping many people achieve their financial goals. In 2005 I was stricken with ovarian cancer. My doctor in Trinidad told me that she could not help me, and no other doctor in Trinidad at that time was qualified to do so. I sought treatment in Miami and gained a new lease on life. In 2013 I wrote a book about my cancer ordeal and recovery, I am Cancer Free. That was my first book and I have never stopped writing after that. To date I have written nineteen books.

Kaye: You’ve written 6 memoirs, 2 children’s books, a science fiction series, a crime novel, and a nonfiction book on writing. What’s the secret to tackling so many different genres?

Brenda: There really is no secret to writing in multiple genres. I have always loved a challenge and constantly seek out new opportunities. I write whatever I feel passionate about.

Kaye: You have written books in multiple genres: science fiction, memoir, self-help, etc… What are some of the differences you run into in writing different genres?

Brenda: When I am writing science fiction I maintain my focus on science fiction, and similarly with the other genres. The secret is to stay focused on the plot or the subject to achieve the end result. However, the problem I faced was in promoting my books.
I discovered a way around that and made Facebook Author pages for each genre. I have seven Facebook author pages. I also joined several Facebook groups that specialise in genres in which I write, to promote my books.

Kaye: Which genre is your favorite to write in? Why?

Brenda: I really enjoyed writing my science fiction series because it took me to another world for a while. When I wrote it I found myself becoming the hero or heroine and doing impossible things.

Kaye: You won a Readers’ Favorite Award in the 2018 International Book Awards for both your YA science fiction series Zeeka Chronicles,and your memoir I Am Cancer Free. What, if anything do these two books have in common besides both being Reader’s Favorite Book Award recipients? What makes them award winning books?

Brenda: Strange. I think I just answered that question above. The books have nothing in common yet there is a common thread. One is a futuristic thriller and the other is a survival story. As I said above when writing science fiction. i.e. Zeeka Chronicles, I found myself becoming the hero or heroine. In I am Cancer Free I am the heroine.
Seriously though, I quote from Readers Favorite: “Contest entries are judged all year long and are given a rating score based on key literary elements. The judges simply read the book and score it based on its merits.”

Kaye: Those are not the only award winning books you’ve written. Two other memoirs, My Life as a Banker received a second place award in memoirs in the Metamorph Publishing’s Summer Indie Book Awards in 2016 and Your Time is Now received IHIBRP 5 Star Recommended Read Award Badge. What can you tell us about those two books?

Brenda: My Life as a Banker is a memoir about my life in Banking. Banking was my first love. I always wanted to work in a bank. I love serving and helping people and seeing them prosper. Banking gave me the opportunity to do so and especially when I climbed the ranks to Commercial Area Credit Manager and was able to help business people with startups and expansion. Banking allowed me to play my part in building the economy of my native country, Trinidad.
Your Time is Now is intended to help people understand their own lives and to realize that we are all here on earth for a purpose.
The reviews for both these books speak a lot for them.

Kaye: What is it like to receive notification that your book is the recipient of a prestigious award?

Brenda: I have won many awards before in both Banking and Insurance.in my home country.
However, as this was an International Award it was a most joyous feeling to tell my friends and family that I won two prestigious awards with Readers Favorite International and will be attending the Awards Ceremony in Miami. In November.

Kaye: What’s something most readers would never guess about you?

Brenda: I dabble in art, poetry, and graphics in my spare time. Some of my art work hang on the walls of my home.

Kaye: What time of day do you prefer to do your writing? Why?

Brenda: I prefer to write in the still of the night. When everyone is asleep I find peace to think and write.

Kaye: What is the biggest challenge of being a writer?

Brenda: Only a few days ago I penned this poem about writing:

Writing takes me into a fantasy world.

Sometimes I find myself in a black hole.

I edit and fight to come out of it

But not before I get into a fit.



My books have gathered great reviews

Won awards and made the news.

Is it worth it, I sometimes ask?

Writing a book is a great task.



A writer’s life is a rather lonely one.

All day behind a computer is no fun.

An author must make the time

Read others’ books and go out and lime.



Do not sit at your computer all day.

Join the family in travel and play

Love of a family is life’s greatest gift

When you need to relax they give you a lift.

Kaye: Is there anything unique or unusual about your writing process?

Brenda: Before writing a story I write an outline of the entire plot in a couple of pages. I then use that to build my story. It sounds simple, but it is not.

Kaye: Your book on writing is titled How to Write for Success: Best Writing Advice I Received. Can you briefly share what the best writing advice you ever received really was? What is the main message of this book?

Brenda: The Best Writing Advice I Received was “Keep the Reader in mind when writing. In other words write for the reader and your books will sell.”
To answer the second part of the question I will quote one of the five-star reviews. The one from Readers Favorite is too long so I will share this one from an Amazon Reviewer:
“Having read a couple of Mohammed’s books, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed in this self-help book, and I was not. The book covers not only the gamut on the art of writing, but the formulation of an idea for a book, to proofreading, and eventual marketing of his/her book. This is an excellent book for anyone who finds him/herself contemplating becoming a writer. With Mohammed’s book in hand, there should be little, if any, room for error. I highly recommend.”

Kaye: You like to travel. Do the places you travel end up in your books?

Brenda: Yes they do and they did. I wrote Travel Memoirs with Pictures: Exploring the world. It is an illustrated picture book filled with reflections of my travels around the world.

In this pictorial travel book of my priceless memories, I describe places visited and the wonderful times I and my family had in our tourist trips. The book is great to read while on a vacation or for some travel inspiration.

I want to thank Brenda Mohammed for joining us here today and sharing a little about her lovely books. You can learn more about Brenda and her books on Amazon at: http://Author.to/BCM786. I love how she turned her own life experiences into books to be shared by all.

Like this post? Follow Brenda on Amazon.

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EDITORIAL REVIEW
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PRESS RELEASES FROM READERS FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL AWARDS 2018

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She Cried for Me: Autobiography of a Dog Brenda Mohammed is now available in an Audiobook.
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