Meet Y!CN Contributor Jolie Du Pre

Jolie du Pre is energetic and passionate about what she does. She is full of enthusiasm and doesn't have time for petty arguments. It comes as no surprise that she is successful not only on the Yahoo! Contributor Network, but on other online writing sites and online business ventures. In this interview you will learn more about this highly energized, passionate and successful woman. Also, you will learn about her real time meeting with another fellow Yahoo! Contributor Network Contributor.

1. You always seem so full of energy. Are really this way most of the time?

Right now, no. That's because I had foot surgery beginning back in October. I'm still in recovery. But normally, yes.

2. Why did you need foot surgery?

Problems I had with my feet for over 20 years. Don't really want to give the details. LOL

3. Okay, I understand. Can you indicate when you think your recovery will be complete?

I should be back to my old, wild self by May. I have a writer's conference in New Orleans to attend, in May, and in June I'm going to Thailand.

4. You always seem enthusiastic about your writing. Is this a fair depiction of you?

Yes. I'm doing what I've always wanted to do, and I'm doing it full-time.

5. When you say always, what do you mean?

Sorry. I should have been more clear. I've wanted to write full-time for at least 20 years. I've been doing it for three - full-time. However, I was first published about 11 years ago or so.

6. Your answer was fine. Can you offer the part time writer any tips about how to graduate from a part time writer to a full time writer?

Quit your job. LOL I'm kidding, but not really. When you give up your job, you're forced to make writing full-time work. I was lucky because I had my husband to fall back on. Not as easy to do when you don't have any other income.

7. What was your first piece of published work?

I'm an erotica writer and publisher. My first piece of writing was an erotic short story.

I meant to say I'm an erotica writer and editor.

8. How would you say written erotica has evolved from eleven years ago?

E-books! Now we can make money with e-books. Most of my anthologies are sold in e-books not print.

9. Did E-books cause a dramatic increase in sales?

It's caused a dramatic increase for lots of people. Brick and mortar bookstores and print books are nowhere near as popular as they were 11 years ago. I still love print, but you have to be open to e-books.

Amazon Kindle, the iPad, etc.

10. I know you have some erotica currently for sale. I can link some of them at the end of this interview. However, can you give us a little plug?

My latest anthology is "The Cougar Book." I'd also like to give a plug for my flash fiction site - Leodegraunce.

11. You also run an online dating site, don't you?

Yep, it's called Meet Her Here. It's a lesbian dating site.

12. What was the history in starting this site?

A woman contacted me by email and asked me if I would be interested in starting a lesbian dating site, based on my history with lesbian fiction. I almost ignored her email because I thought it was spam. LOL I'm glad I didn't.

13. Was it difficult to set up and is it time consuming to maintain?

It wasn't difficult to set up, but it took a lot of promotion in the beginning. Now I make money whether I promote it or not. But it's been almost two years, I think.

14. I take it that membership to the site has increased?

Yep!

15. Does anyone ever write to you and tell you that they met the love of their life through, Meet Her Here?

No, not yet. My site is managed by a company. I should check with the company to see if letters have come in.

16. What sites do you currently write for online?

Y!CN, Textbroker, Seed, Demand Studios and I'm trying to get back into Examiner.

17. Have there been any that you tried, but discontinued?

I discontinued Bukisa and I don't write for Suite 101 anymore.

18. Why did you stop writing for those two sites?

Money. LOL I wasn't making any money.

19. I like how you are never afraid to speak your mind. Does this carry over in your offline life too?

Thanks! Yep! I'm not a follower. I have to go my own way and if I don't agree with something, I say so.

20. What topics do you like to write about the most?

Celebrities!!

21. What do you say to those people that say that you only write about celebrity gossip or that writing about celebrities isn't real writing?

I tell them that celebrity gossip is probably the most popular content out there. Everyone from doctors to truck drivers to teachers to waitresses to writers to students read it. People who say they hate celebrity gossip read it. Everyone reads it. It's like a drug. That's why celebrity gossip writers get so many hits. But I also write hard news, and I'm good at it. So, I've proven that I can write the serious stuff, too.

22. Are you excited about the direction that Yahoo! Contributor Network is heading and about the opportunity that it is giving you?

Absolutely! I can't complain about Y!CN because I've gotten everything that I've wanted out of it.

23. What are your thoughts about the Y!CN forum?

I stay out of it, for the most part. The negativity is not good for production. If I want to continue to be a successful writer, I have to stay away from the drama and write.

24. I read something you wrote somewhere about you meeting fellow Y!CN Contributor Kofi Bofah for lunch. Did this really happen? If it did, how would you describe the experience?

Yes, I met Kofi. He's a successful young businessman in Chicago. I met him at his office in downtown Chicago and then we went to lunch. He's very successful for his young age.

25. Are there any special articles or anything that you would like linked in this interview?

Just my main AC/Yahoo page: Jolie du Pre would be great! Thanks!

26. Is there anything else that you would like to add to this interview?

Nope, I think that's it. Thank you so very much, Han. I appreciate the opportunity!