Foxx, Nina

PERSONAL:

Born in Jamaica, NY; married. Ethnicity: African American. Education: Graduate of the City University of New York, Hunter College and Baruch College; certificate in graduate literary fiction, University of Washington; holds an M.S. and Ph.D. Hobbies and other interests: Downhill skiing, travel, exercising, dance, reading.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Near San Antonio, TX. E-mail—nina.foxx@gmail.com.

CAREER:

Writer. Affiliated with the Austin Writer's League and Girl Scouts of America. Founding member of the Femme Fanstastik Tour (authors tour).

MEMBER:

Jack & Jill of America, Alpha Kappa Alpha, The Links, Inc.

WRITINGS:

Do the Write Thing: 7 Steps to Publishing Success (nonfiction), Manisy Willows Books (Austin, TX), 2002.

Marrying Up, (play; also see below), 2006.

NOVELS

Dippin My Spoon, Manisy Willows Books (Austin, TX), 2000.

Get Some Love, Avon Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Going Buck Wild, Avon Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Marrying Up, Avon Books (New York, NY), 2005.

Just Short of Crazy, Avon Trade (New York, NY), 2006.

No Girl Needs a Husband Seven Days a Week, Avon Trade (New York, NY), 2007.

Author of the blog Vixen Chronicles. Contributor of short stories to "The Ghost Ship" to African American Book Club Summit at Sea Anniversary Collection, Pageturner, 2004; and Wanderlust: Erotic Travel Tales, edited by Carol Taylor, Plume (New York, NY), 2005. Author of column, "In Seach of Color," BlackWords Online, 2000-2002.

Contributor to periodicals, including Black Issues Book Review. Editorial associate, Literary Review Journal.

SIDELIGHTS:

Nina Foxx is the author of a number of novels, including Get Some Love, the story of a young woman who has lost the grandfather who protected and raised her. Twenty-year-old Angelina Chappee is stunned when the reading of the will reveals that he was a multimillionaire, but even more astounding are the conditions that accompany her inheritance. She must lose her virginity within six days. Angelina, who wants the money to attend Juilliard, tries to meet the conditions, but fails in several attempts. Perhaps the answer to her dilemma comes to town in the form of Juan Delgado, who would rather be playing his saxophone than working in the family dry cleaning business.

Angela McQuay reviewed the novel for the Curled Up with a Good Book Web site, commenting: "The premise of Get Some Love is ridiculous and, frankly, pretty sick." BookLoons Web site contributor Melissa Parcel held a similar view, writing that she "was disgusted with Angelica's grandfather through most of the book…. But readers who enjoy a good romance will not be disappointed with Get Some Love, despite its shortcomings."

Marrying Up is the story of Paris Montague, a young black woman living in Austin, Texas, who has set herself the goal of finding a wealthy husband. This excludes Tyson James, who adores her and stays true to her despite her rejection. Paris's parents would like to see her marry JaBari Nolan, a slick banking analyst who convinces them to invest in a dubious scheme. As the family finances dwindle, Tyson's financial future is looking up, and Paris recognizes where her true happiness lies, both romantically and financially.

Alexis Montague Pearson is the protagonist of Just Short of Crazy. Dumped by her boyfriend of three years, the black attorney makes life changes that include learning tae kwon do. During a class she breaks the arm of Remedy, then visits him in the hospital, where she meets his possessive ex-wife. Now she is faced with a new decision, whether or not to pursue this new relationship in spite of the ex-wife's instability.

Foxx told CA: "I have always been a writer. I submitted my first story to Catholic Digest in middle school, and then again to the New York as a freshman in college. Although neither was accepted, I did later have my responses to editorials published as a column in the Phoenix Sun. I didn't have the courage to write full time until I retired from my full-time job as an I/O psychologist in the tech industry at the end of 1999.

"I draw influences and inspirations from my eclectic reading tastes and my love of people watching.

"I write better under contract. I will generally have a daily quota and that varies depending on how far away my deadline is, ranging from three pages a day to fifteen or more.

"I was most surprised when I realized that when you write the book you're not done, especially in this genre. It really helps to sell your book if you go out and talk about it."

When asked which of her books is her favorite, Foxx said: "The last one is always my favorite. When they finally hit the shelves, I like to reread them and see how I've improved since the last one."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, August 1, 2003, Lillian Lewis, review of Get Some Love, p. 1952; July 1, 2006, Lillian Lewis, review of Just Short of Crazy, p. 29.

Publishers Weekly, June 20, 2005, review of Marrying Up, p. 55.

ONLINE

BookLoons,http://www.bookloons.com/ (June 15, 2007), Melissa Parcel, review of Get Some Love.

Book-Remarks.com,http://www.book-remarks.com/ (August 16, 2007), Simone Hawks, review of Going Buck Wild.

Curled Up with a Good Book,http://www.curledup.com/ (June 15, 2007), Angela McQuay, review of Get Some Love.

Harriet Klausner's Reviews,http://harrietklausner.wwwi.com/ (August 16, 2007), review of Just Short of Crazy.

Nina Foxx Home Page,http://www.ninafoxx.com (June 15, 2007).