Chermean T. Gregory - The Sensuous Author
by James Johnson
With the launch of U.G.D. Books comes our latest feature with an amazing literary talent. Chermean Gregory is no stranger to the publishing world. In recent years, she’s self-published a string of insanely popular novels, and fans have lauded her as one of urban-fiction’s most promising scribes. We connect and talk about her past releases, as well as her upcoming projects which includes a new cookbook just for the lover in you. She also gives us a bit of a preview of a new show she’s got in the works, and it’s already something to be reveled. Check out the exclusive below!
U.G. Digital Magazine: It’s so amazing and I’m grateful for this opportunity. I’ve had a chance to check out the books you’ve had out and what you have is great. Thank you so much. I typically buy books through my phone or iPad. Will you release any that way?
Chermean T. Gregory: Definitely. My new books will definitely be available through iTunes.
U.G. Digital Magazine: I think in general, you’ve truly done amazing. It’s funny because your subject matter, people would often say it’s for women, but I think your books touch people all across the spectrum. You have something that I could just sit and read all day.
Chermean T. Gregory: That’s awesome. I have a lot of men who tell me they don’t have time to sit and read, but they get my books, like “Perfectly Addicted”, and they love them.
U.G. Digital Magazine: There’s a lot of truth in that. A lot of men just don’t sit and read like that, but I’ve always been into reading good books and expanding the imagination. That’s the whole idea anyway; to be able to see things in different perspectives. What you have makes you want to do that. Congratulations.
Chermean T. Gregory: Thank you so much.
U.G. Digital Magazine: Now you have a book getting ready to come out right?
Chermean T. Gregory: Yes, I have two coming.
U.G. Digital Magazine: How did you first arrive at “Perfectly Addicted”?
Chermean T. Gregory: I found myself growing up as this fat girl who was always different. I thought differently than most and was a people watcher. I was one who could tackle anything. If I set out to accomplish something, I would master it. I found myself getting bored, and through research I started to learn more about being a gemini. I started reading and finding that we are forever changing. We are skilled of many and master of none, as they say. They talked about how Journalism was great for us because it’s forever changing. I started to realize that I write a lot of poems and I easily become self-absorbed. It made me want to write a book, and that helped me to live vicariously through the characters. I’m the outspoken fun-loving wild girl in the book. I’ll say the things you’re thinking but you just won’t say.
U.G. Digital Magazine: In terms of writing, what difficulties were there along the way and how long did it take for you to complete the book?
Chermean T. Gregory: The only thing was that I was a mother of a small child. I needed to write during late hours because of everything that was going on, but everything else went smoothly. I knew it was meant to be and it only took nine months to complete.
U.G. Digital Magazine: It’s interesting because I’ve played with the idea of writing a book on my life, and I did get started, but it’s difficult finding the time to write. It’s been about a year since starting.
Chermean T. Gregory: That’s the hardest part now. This time around, I’m having that same problem. Now, I have a daughter and she’s rambunctious. She makes it a little more difficult. The time to complete definitely won’t be the same.
U.G. Digital Magazine: I would imagine it’s more difficult now to balance since you have multiple children.
Chermean T. Gregory: Right, and I had two then, but they were both boys. She’s running the crew now (laughing)
U.G. Digital Magazine: So now, you’ve finished your first project and released it. What was the feeling like to have your project finally released?
Chermean T. Gregory: I released ‘Perfectly addicted” and it did so well that I felt eager to get to the next book. Within that first year, I went into my second novel, and released “Entangled Affairs” the following year.
U.G. Digital Magazine: Talk about the story behind “Entangled Affairs”?
Chermean T. Gregory: It was just more of a story where I take situations and scenarios I see and go with it. It’s a very tricky situation (the story itself), but it’s also something that a lot of people relate to but never want to talk about. It’s very real.
U.G. Digital Magazine: How was it putting that together, and how was it releasing it?
Chermean T. Gregory: It was a lot easier because I went through the ropes of self-publishing with “Perfectly Addicted” so now it was a lot easier. That really paved the way for “Entangled Affairs”, as well as the projects I’m working now.
U.G. Digital Magazine: How has self-publishing been overall?
Chermean T. Gregory: Initially, I wanted to go through a publishing company, but I’m that girl that feels like when I want it, I want it. I don’t want anyone telling me know (laughing)
U.G. Digital Magazine: Well hell, I’m that guy [laughing].
Chermean T. Gregory: I just felt like I don’t have time for this, and I’ll make it happen myself. The biggest thing is funding it yourself, and then waiting for it to do what it will to recoup what you’ve spent.
U.G. Digital Magazine: Honestly, that was the theory behind the magazine.
Chermean T. Gregory: Absolutely. Honestly, I haven’t thought twice with the current projects.
U.G. Digital Magazine: Right. I think you stand to do better when you self-publish and do the work behind it.
Chermean T. Gregory: Nobody promotes you like YOU.
U.G. Digital Magazine: That’s so true. If you’re not wiling to promote and invest in yourself, then why would anyone else?
Chermean T. Gregory: Right. I promote me all day.
U.G. Digital Magazine: That’s what builds the success. So now, you have two projects coming, one being a cookbook. Tell us a little more about that.
Chermean T. Gregory: I’m excited because you’re the first to get the word on this. It’s called The Sensuous Cookbook. It’s a little different because first of all, I’m a sensuous author. I have a love and passion for writing, but cooking is one of my favorite pastimes. I had to find a way to make it flow the way I write. I decided to write a cookbook to help the lovers out there in a situation where they don’t know how to cook. I give you the recipe, but also a sensuous poem with each one, and it’s almost like a novel. Each recipe has a title. The first is called Date Night, and I take you through the stages of dating and you get a poem and a signature drink to accompany the meal.
U.G. Digital Magazine: I think it’s amazing, and no one has provided that take on a cookbook. Sad enough, I probably need this cookbook (laughing).
Chermean T. Gregory: It’s going to be perfect(laughing). I cook from the heart, and cooking is my therapy. When I give you the recipe, I give it to you like you’re in my kitchen talking to me. I take you through each stage and the meal matches the situation.
U.G. Digital Magazine: Wow. I always think of the promotional aspect, and I can really picture how big this will be doing TV shows and such.
Chermean T. Gregory: Right, and that’s what we’re shooting for.
U.G. Digital Magazine: It’s great. Are they average recipes or do some of them get complicated?
Chermean T. Gregory: I didn’t want it outlandish. I needed it to be good food, but simple where a man can go in the kitchen and cook. I’m a big seafood lover. One recipe is a shrimp and chicken pasta meal. I also go from making an easy sandwich for one of the recipes for a walk in the park. It’s like a smoked Salmon sandwich. It’s things in this cookbook that fit every situation. I have one that is for making up and breaking up. For breaking up, it’s comfort food, and then something good for making up. The drink for making up involves tying you to the bedpost (laughing).
U.G. Digital Magazine: OK, OK, so when does it go on sale?
Chermean T. Gregory: It actually goes on pre-sale soon, and will release right before Valentine’s day.
U.G. Digital Magazine: I look forward to it. Talk about your second project that’s coming.
Chermean T. Gregory: The second project is a sequel to “Perfectly Addicted”. Fans have been wanting a sequel to that so I’m finally giving it to them.
U.G. Digital Magazine: I love the type of books that are more a series. I like reading books like that.
Chermean T. Gregory: Yes, and people will be excited. I’ve been getting messages for years about it, so I had to do it.
U.G. Digital Magazine: When will that release?
Chermean T. Gregory: “Perfectly Addicted 2” will come out later in 2019.
U.G. Digital Magazine: That’s cool. Anything else you’re working on?
Chermean T. Gregory: Yes, I have a show I’m doing. Of course, I love cooking, but I also engage in topics with people of different backgrounds, and the show is called “Conversation, Cocktails, and Cuisine”. I have a panel of 6-8 people. I cook a dish and we have wine. Once they are there they get a topic and we discuss it. We have men and women on the first show, but the second is men only. Then we’ll do women only.
U.G. Digital Magazine: Where do you shoot?
Chermean T. Gregory: We do different locations. We did a home here in Charlotte, and the next one, we’ll do a bar and grill called TCB 54 Hundred. The owner is one of the panelists, and we use is outside grill area.
U.G. Digital Magazine: Wow. I have to put my own plug in to get on there. I think the concept is amazing.
Chermean T. Gregory: That would be awesome, we’d love to have you.
U.G. Digital Magazine: So when can we look for the show?
Chermean T. Gregory: We haven’t set the date. We just started getting the panelists. We’re still trying to make sure the dates work with everyone.
U.G. Digital Magazine: I haven’t been out that way in a long time. I have a lot of family there, but it’s been since about 2012.
Chermean T. Gregory: Well you need to get here. That would be perfect.
U.G. Digital Magazine: You say the word and I’m there.
Chermean T. Gregory: We will certainly make that happen.
U.G. Digital Magazine: I think everything you’re doing is amazing. I really like to see black people succeeding at following our dreams. We just don’t have enough black authors, nor enough of the type of stories that you’re writing. You fill a tremendous void out there, especially with the cookbook. I often feel like I’m doing my thing in the kitchen, and the reality is I’m not doing a damned thing. I know from how it sounds this will be good.
Chermean T. Gregory: (Laughing) It will help you so much. One of my sisters is not the biggest cook, and I gave her recipes that she was able to follow.
U.G. Digital Magazine: I’m so ready. This will be amazing for someone like me, and a lot of others as well. It’s truly amazing. Talk a little about where people can find you online?
Chermean T. Gregory: On instagram, I’m @thesensuous_author. Facebook is Chermean-Author/Model. My website is www.addictedtoochermean.com.
U.G. Digital Magazine: We really appreciate you. We focus on a certain quality of people when it comes to our subject matter, and you are that it-factor for us. I’m super picky in terms of what we display here because I just want something bigger and better when it comes down to quality. I want us to help people In their lives with our content, however that may be. I look forward to the cookbook. I do buy a lot of books digitally; will this be digital?
Chermean T. Gregory: It will be for sure.
U.G. Digital Magazine: Are there any final words?
Chermean T. Gregory: I just want to tell people, I just stepped out on faith. It wasn’t that I was in this position to stop corporate America and pursue my brand. I had to pray on it and step out on faith to go after my dream. You have to take that leap sometimes.
U.G. Digital Magazine: I’m with that. It’s been five years for us. I’ve been in healthcare for twenty years, but stepping out on faith 5 years ago delivered me to many of the things I had dreamed of all my life. There’s certainly been struggle, but there’s been true triumph. I totally agree with you, and hopefully everyone reading this will get it.
Chermean T. Gregory: I hope so. It’s not that it’s not challenging, but it balances itself.