Featured Artist: Matilda Wells

Tillie vibrant in Orange Mode

Vital Signs:

Name: Matilda “Tillie” Wells

Nick Name: Tillie

Age or Sign: Scorpio

Hometown: South

Ethnicity: Black

Passion: Writing and listening to Music. I also love charity work. I am in partnership with The Lungs of the Haitian @ www.plh.webs.com where we try to help the children and the elderly of Haiti. We also help the charity organization I founded which is Tender Heart Outreach.

O&A session:

OM: How long have you been expressing your artistic side?

Tillie: I discovered my artistic side at the age of seven when I sang along with the radio. I’ve been expressing it since Junior High School. I sang in school performance choirs. The choirs traveled around and performed at various events. I was also in the Choralees in High School. In High School is when I started writing song lyrics and I continue to this day.

OM: What else have you done using your artistic skill and have you worked with anyone famous?

Tillie: I sing. I am a Songwriter. I am a licensed Music Publisher with BMI (www.BMI.com ) and ASCAP (www.ASCAP.com); also songwriter with the same companies. I work with talented Artists in the Music Industry in Promotions and actually had artists’ music broadcast with top spins on the radio and spins (with feedback) by way of the nightclubs and by way of various Record Pools. I’ve also booked many gigs to where the music Artists performed and some opened for well-known Acts.

OM: Do you have any children?

Tillie: Yes. I do not have biological children, but I have stepchildren – a boy and a girl from a previous marriage.

OM: What would you say your best attribute is?

Tillie: I don’t brag on the physical as in body-build wise (a work in progress), but there was a time I could brag on that. But, people love my eyes and say they can tell that I am trustworthy by my eyes; which I am. I used to get compliments on my smile, but not much anymore. A non-physical attribute is that I am funny. People say I have a sense of humor and I do.

OM: How is your support chain (family)?

Tillie: I have many book-reading, poetry fans and singing-skill fans to include some of my family. Family is always supportive like my moms, pops, sister and niece, LaQuita Donerlson.

OM: Do you dance?

Tillie: I love to dance. I dance during my workouts. I was a great dancer back in the day; still am.

OM: What are some clubs you would recommend from your city? What would you recommend someone who visits your city check out if they had to check out one thing or place?

Tillie: I did the club thing back in the day, so I don’t have a favorite club presently. I did like The French Quarters, if that establishment is still open, there is live entertainment there. Bands would actually perform with the lead singer and the background singers and musicians; there is not a lot of that these days. I’ve gotten to the age where I don’t need the club scene. Yet, when I have traveled overseas, I loved the clubs because of the layout on the beaches. Traveling to foreign places and visiting night clubs is where I learned to like Techno music. I did go frequently to a club called Top Flight, in my college days and The Underground.

OM: Where have you traveled overseas?

I’ve visited Haiti and Dominican Republic. I’ve visited the Islands of Haiti. One of which is the Capital of Haiti, which is Port Au Prince as well as SaintMichel de l’Attalaye, Haiti. I’ve traveled through other islands of Haiti too. I’ve also visited Dominican Republic islands of Sosua, Puerto Plata, and Santo Domingo and traveled through other islands of DOM.

OM: Do you workout or go to the gym?

Tillie: I have worked out all of my life, but I tend to get a little lazy from time to time, but I always resume. I need a personal trainer at my house because I know that sexy body is waiting around the corner; the one in which I once had that made men blow the horn as I walked down the streets.

OM: Do you drink and if so what is your favorite drink?

Tillie: I drink on occasion. My favorite drink mix is Whiskey Sour. I can go for Rum and Coke also. I drink beer on occasion, which all alcoholic beverages cleanse the toxins out of the system.

OM: In your everyday life, where can you be seen at you know (school, supermarkets) you know

Tillie: I’m a home body. I like quiet and serenity, but I also like to get a way, traveling to some places of discovery. Of course, I have to get out and do the book signings.

OM: Do you have any musical or other positive influences in your life, what Inspires you?

Tillie: God is number one. Tyler Perry is an influence because Tyler Perry was once homeless and now he is very successful. He is very inspirational to me on the artistic level. There is also the old school cats like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Harriett Tubman and meaningful historical figures who paved the way for us.

OM: What is your favorite color?

Tillie: Black

OM: What is your favorite flower and why?

Tillie: I love Carnations and Chrysanthemums because both are beautiful plants of distinction. The carnation has the ruffled petals which fascinate me. I love the beauty of these flowers and the colors. These are delicate, durable, and eye-pleasing plants. The history of the Carnation is much like that of people: “Flower of love.” It is one of the world’s oldest flowers, dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times; the carnation continues to endure. Chrysanthemums are “known as the Queen of Autumn.” The history is that Chrysanthemums were cultivated in China more than two thousand years ago. It has been the national flower of Japan for several hundred years.

 

OM: What is your favorite TV show or Movies?

Tillie: Housewives of Atlanta is my favorite television show because I love the reality of it and because the ladies are my homies. My favorite movie of all times – Beowulf; its wild…check it out @ http://youtu.be/v9qpqyO_dmU .

OM: Do you have any other hobbies or special talents?

Tillie: I sing and write music lyrics. I am also studying writing movie scripts and trying to get into various things. I am working on casting for stage plays in various cities.

OM: While pursuing your dream, what do you do to pay the bills?

Tillie: I have worked in many Government Offices.

OM: Do you have a favorite designer when it comes to clothing, jewelry that type of stuff?

Tillie: I have never been into brand names. If I see something on the rack that I like, I will buy. I love your new line of clothing, Tarry Bailey. And I wish you much success on the launching.

OM: What is some of your contact information for our readers can get a hold of you?

Tillie: www.smashwords.com/38711, www.smashwords.com/69151, www.smashwords.com/69072, www.twitter.com/tillieWells , www.facebook.com/tilliewells, www.plhorg.webs.com. My email address is [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] and check out Facebook for my cell phone number. I’m out there and not hiding so hit me up! I also hope to be a regular writer for Orange Mode Magazine, so hit up Tarry Bailey for me too.

OM: If you could leave the Orange Mode readers anything, what would it be besides make sure you get your Nine Livez on?

Tillie: I would like to advise peeps to keep on the Grind. If you have a passion or dream in which you want to come true – pursue, pursue, pursue and never give up, no matter how long it takes, no matter who puts you down, no matter how much negativity comes your way, no matter how many haters you have to face, no matter how many times you are knocked down with obstacles, just get back up and keep it moving because one day it will pay off when you are least expecting.

 

Some more information and accomplishments by Tillie:

About Author Matilda “Tillie” Wells

Growing up a shy kid throughout grammar school, due to being bullied, Matilda became a loner and turned those negative energies from others into watching movies, the news and just about anything which aired on television. Although her mother and siblings taught her a lot of educational things at home, she paid attention to teachers in school. She grasped all of the knowledge she could from Reading class, Literature class, English class and other resourceful subjects. Because her first passion was to write music lyrics and become a singer/songwriter, she wanted to learn how to rhyme, so she would partake in learning about that data.

From English teachers awarding her with certificates of achievement in grammar school to a college professor giving her accolades on her writing abilities, this escalated and heightened awareness that she could indeed have a career in writing. Now a grown-up, Author Matilda “Tillie” Wells has refined her writing skills and published five books and counting; two in which are co-authored. Inspiring these accomplishments of writing, also came from a great mother with encouraging words that she should write books; so it has been written and an Author is born.

Titles of fiction-based on truth books are: Who You Callin’ Hoochie? (Comedy/Romance/Adventure), Malik…Escape from the Bloods Gang (Romance/Adventure), Runaways (Romance/Adventure), He’s Only Mine Part Time (Romance/Erotica), Lil’ Haitian Impact (Romance/Adventure/Social Issues), and several Erotica titles one of which is entitled Beach Bunny. Born a Scorpio, Erotica/Romance is a favorite writing category of Author Tillie because sexual expression is a vital part of life and relationships.

As a southern girl, Author Tillie was raised on a farm with six other siblings, along with various animals and many fruit and vegetables. Unlike households of today with single parents, having a father and mother in the household has kept her grounded and focused on the goals of life. Divorced and in a relationship with a man of a different nationality and from a foreign country has brought a different perspective to her life making her more aware of social and political issues around the world. Now Author Tillie has broadened her writing to incorporate diverse characters and cultures in her stories as in her co-authored book Lil’ Haitian Impact.

Author Matilda “Tillie” Wells’ Quotes:

Writing has to be a heart-felt passion or the flame will die. It can’t be only about the accruing of money, although the success and benefits from writing are great, but writing has to come from the gut. If you have something inside of you, then it needs to come out. Writing is the best form of expression. The end results of writing can be placed in magazines, in your own books and even on the big screen by way of movies. To executive produce one of my books or direct some other writer’s work as a movie production is my dream and next big step. If while reading a story, you can imagine it in your head, as if it’s a movie then it’s a hit.

By writing, I can be anyone and do anything because I imagine myself to become different characters. When I pick up my pen and write, I use words to tell a story and I imagine me as the characters that bring drama, action, love, hope, dreams or whatever fantasy as contained within my expressions. I can make characters take flights to other countries, dream their wildest dreams, make love to their fantasy woman or man, encounter violence, happiness or any scenario imaginable because I put pen to paper. I’m not boxed into only steamy romances, although all of my stories have romantic love scenes. The content of my stories include variations of content because I also like to write about drama, action and adventure. My stories are adventurous and interesting and pull the readers into a not wanting to put the book down situations. I always incorporate real-life issues into my stories based on things in which have been reality in my life such as politics, civil and human rights as well as social issues.