Interview with Lakeysha-Marie Green, author of 'The Seeds of Beauty'

ABOUT THE SEEDS OF BEAUTY

What’s the real secret to radiant beauty? It may come as no surprise that how we look on the outside is directly connected to the beauty deep inside us. What’s more, when we are burdened with the weight of low self-esteem, it’s all-too-visible in our physical appearance. That’s why a truly successful makeover begins by reconnecting with who we are at our very core—long before the swipe of the credit card or snip of the shears.

Now, fashion stylist Lakeysha-Marie Green has written a groundbreaking new guide to developing show-stopping beauty from the inside out. Inspirational and easy to use, The Seeds of Beauty seamlessly joins the key elements of inner beauty with savvy, expert style advice on making the most of your own physical attributes. Addressing both of these all-important parts of true beauty, this gorgeous resource comes together in one illuminating journey that looks as fabulous as it feels. In Part One, “Beauty Within,” you’ll learn to build a foundation of self-love, exploring subjects such as acknowledging your value, developing resilience and finding the courage to move forward. Part Two, “Beauty Reflected,” offers you practical advice on wardrobe fundamentals to bring out your beauty and create a winning style, such as working with your body type, selecting your best colors, choosing a swimsuit, and even building a shoe wardrobe. Unlike other fashion and beauty makeover books on the market, The Seeds of Beauty challenges you to discover just why you are uniquely beautiful on the inside. Once you have embraced your own brand of beauty, you’ll be truly motivated to master the building blocks to accentuate your appearance—and glow with your own exquisite beauty from the inside out. PURCHASE AT:

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?

Moving to the UK and residing there for a few years is something that I am very proud of accomplishing.  It was a move that I made on my own and it really challenged to grow out of my shell and see things with a whole new perspective.

How has your upbringing influenced your writing?

I grew up in a very creative household with singing…instruments…painting…etc. As a result I enjoy writing creatively in a descriptive, story-telling style.  It may sound strange, but for me writing is almost like composing a song but instead of using notes for the music, I use words.

When and why did you begin writing?

I begin writing as a child. I loved reading books and the pictures that the words painted in my mind. I began writing because I wanted to be able to do the same thing with my own words.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

My interest in writing originated as a result of observing nature. I would see something like a sunset or a river and I wanted to capture it and describe it with words. Describing the warm colors that illuminated the rooftops at dawn was so much more interesting to me than simply saying the sun came up.

When did you first know you could be a writer? 

It’s not a moment that I can pinpoint exactly. I remember perusing through fashion write ups online and thinking to myself, hey I can do this. I put together a few articles and sent them off to an editor. He loved them and that’s where my professional writing career began.

What inspires you to write and why?

I like to share stories and this is what inspires me to write. My end goal is always to share in some way a lesson, tip or experience that will benefit the reader.

What genre are you most comfortable writing?

I am most comfortable writing non-fiction. I like bringing everyday challenges and experiences to life through words. Whether its fashion trends or life lessons, I like the tangibility and connection I feel with it all. It makes it much easier to write.

What inspired you to write your first book?

While working as a fashion stylist, I noticed that some of my clients would look phenomenal after our image consultations, but the light in their eyes never seemed to linger no matter how perfect the look. It was a feeling I recognized from my own past, and I wanted to share what I learned with the hope of inspiring another. During our shopping trips we began to drill down deeper into the topics of self-love and esteem. With each conversation I saw a strength emerging. Whether it was finally learning to say no or finding the courage to let go of the past and move forward.

It was then that I began to see a lasting transformation and I realized that before a make-up or fashion consultation begins, her real beauty needed to start from within. This inspired me to write my first book, The Seeds of Beauty.

What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?

Ideas are never ending however the challenge is to organize them in a concise format that works for the reader. This is where working with a good editor is invaluable.

What is your greatest strength as a writer? 

When I was younger, I used to volunteer my time teaching children how to read. The most important thing I learned from this was how to simplify concepts and phrases so that these young minds could understand. This simplification is something that has carried over into my writing and allows readers to readily grasp the theme and message contained within the piece. It’s very beneficial and I feel fortunate to be able to communicate in such a manner.

What is your favorite quality about yourself?

My favorite quality about myself is the ability to laugh at life as well at myself. It’s not something I was always able to do and has changed my perspective on things greatly.

What is your least favorite quality about yourself?

I can be very impatient sometimes. As you can imagine, it gets me into trouble from time to time.

What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?

“Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.” ― Rabindranath Tagore. This is my favorite quote because one of the hardest things to do is to trust or have faith when you can’t necessarily see the tangible outcome. I love the encouragement behind this quote to feel the light of your dreams and goals and to keep moving and believing in yourself even when the path is dark. It’s your faith and belief that gets you there.

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ABOUT LAKEYSHA-MARIE GREEN

Author Lakeysha-Marie Green is no stranger to tackling style dilemmas. A fashion stylist and former women's fit technologist, her extensive experience in the fashion industry taught her the importance of fit, fashion, and effortless style. Her penchant for creativity led to her work in editorial magazines, international film premieres, and advertising. Passionate about helping women to look their best, Lakeysha-Marie has contributed her style expertise on television and in print publications. Inspired by her own roller coaster ride to self-discovery, Lakeysha-Marie began writing to illustrate the potential for transformation that lies within us all. She holds a degree in fashion design & merchandising, with continued coursework in styling & photography from the London College of Fashion.

Visit her blog at: http://www.theseedsofbeauty.com

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Pump Up Your Book and Lakeysha-Marie Green are teaming up to give you a chance to win a $100 Macy's gift card and a $50 Sephora gift card!

Here's how it works:

Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form placed on blogs throughout the tour. If your blog isn't set up to accept the form, we offer another way for you to participate by having people comment on your blog then directing them to where they can fill out the form to gain more entries. This promotion will run from June 17 - September 13. The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on September 14, 2013. Each blogger who participates in The Seeds of Beauty virtual book tour is eligible to enter and win. Visit each blog stop below to gain more entries as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour. If you would like to participate, email Tracee at tgleichner(at)gmail.com.  What a great way to not only win these fabulous prizes, but to gain followers and comments too! Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway----------------------------------------------------------

The Seeds of Beauty Virtual Book Publicity Tour Schedule

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Monday, June 17 - Book featured at Mary's Cup of Tea

Tuesday, June 18  - 1st Chapter Reveal at 4 the Love of Books

Wednesday, June 19 - 1st Chapter Reveal at Parenting 2.0

Friday, June 21 - Interviewed at Review From Here

Monday, June 24 - Book featured at Beyond the Books

Tuesday, June 25 - Book featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner

Thursday, June 27 - Book reviewed at My Life. One Story at a Time

Friday, June 28 - Interviewed at Literal Exposure

Wednesday, July 3 - Book reviewed at Library of Clean Reads

Friday, July 5 -Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking

Monday, July 7 - Guest blogging at The Writer's Life

Wednesday, July 10 - Book featured at 4 the Love of Books

Thursday, July 11 - 1st chapter reveal at As the Pages Turn

Tuesday, July 16 - Book spotlight at I'm Shelf-ish

Wednesday, July 17 - Guest blogging at Between the Covers

Thursday, July 18 - Interviewed at Broowaha

Friday, July 19 - Guest blogging at The Story Behind the Book

Monday, July 22 - Book featured at Confessions of a Reader

Tuesday, July 23 - Book featured at Parenting 2.0

Wednesday, July 24 - Interviewed at Beyond the Books

Thursday, July 25 - Interviewed at Pump Up Your Book

Wednesday, August 7 - Guest blogging at Review From Here

Friday, August 9 - Book featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner

Monday, August 12 - Guest blogging at 4 the Love of Books

Wednesday, August 14 - Book reviewed at My Cozie Corner

Thursday, August 15 - Interviewed at I'm Shelf-ish

Friday, August 16 - Book reviewed at Reading to Know

Monday, August 19 - Book reviewed at Queen of All She Reads

Tuesday, August 20 - Interviewed at The Writer's Life

Wednesday, August 21 - Book featured at Beyond the Books

Thursday, August 22 - Interviewed at Examiner

Monday, August 26 - Guest blogging at Allvoices

Wednesday, August 28 - 1st chapter reveal at Books, Books the Magical Fruit

Thursday, August 29 - Book featured at Literal Exposure

Friday, August 30 - Interviewed at As the Pages Turn

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