Abiola: Look y'all, I'm an authoress! (laughing) Dare is a novel about a sociologist with self esteem issues who goes undercover in the hip hop industry as a sexed up rapper named Jezebel and almost loses itself. It is a comedic portrayal of temptation and the entertainment industry. It's smart, but alot of fun.

T: So it's a hip hop novel?

A: Dare is a very human story about a woman on the verge. You can definitely call it a hip hop novel although you don't have to be into hip hop top be into this story. It's about a woman trying to find her way, and basically trying to invent herself.

T: Your book website is www.daretogetalife.com, what's the story behind that?

A: My novel Dare basically asks the question, what would you dare to do if you knew you could not fail. I really related to my main character and her girl Athena a lot. Everything that they go through with life, men, money etcetera that jeopardizes their friendship and sense of self. I really want readers to be like, wow, I relate to that. After they read the book, they can go to the website and find out how to dare to live bigger and dream bigger themselves. The site even tells you how to start Dare Clubs with your friends.

T: Is a Dare Club like a book club, Abiola?

A: Kind of, but a little more personal. A Dare Club is about the members holding each other accountable for our dreams and goals. We need to rally like Maya in the book and consider what we would dare to do if we knew we could not fail, and then go for it! Sisters are aiming too low!

T: What kind of response has Dare received?

A: So far, people are really feeling it. They are loving the story and the characters, and the crazy adventure that Maya and Athena go through. I have a couple of excerpts on my site that your readers can check out.

T: Any love from people in the biz?

A: Some of the other writers who have shown me love have been TN Baker, who wrote Dice and Shiesty, Miasha, who wrote Secret Society, and hip hop feminist Black Artemis AKA Sofia Quintero who is the powerhouse behind Picture Me Rolling. I feel very loved. Raqiyah Mays from Kiss FM and Hot 97 said "Abiola Abrams' debut is like a breath of fresh air for young fiction and the depiction of women in hip hop. Finally, the world will see the conflicted struggles of ladies in the rap biz in a way that women in hip hop have known and understood for years." And Roxanne Shante says she watches my show. Good stuff!

T: So, as the host of BET J's Best Shorts what is the vision behind the show?

A: The Best Shorts is a short film showcase and competition created by my executive producers Sean Joell Johnson and Ralph Scott. Another executive producer on the show is Paxton Baker of BET. We have a really strong team over at BET J who all believe that it is important to tell alternative stories and give emerging artists a voice. Each season we give away a combined $30,000 to a winner and a runner up. Although we are on Black Entertainment Television, people of all races come up to me daily and tell me how much they love the show.

T: Why aren't films shown on BET J's Best Shorts in more theaters?

A: In America short films really are not treated as an art form as much as they are in other countries. In fact, when I say that my show is The Bests, the average person does not know what I am referring to unless I say "The Best Short Films." However, I have been to Europe and West Africa where short films are respected as more than a calling card. All of this is changing with the advent of video on platforms like phones short films then become a necessary form of entertainment.

T: When did you step into the world of filmmaking?

A: I shot my first short film Ophelia's Opera in 2001. I was frustrated as an actress and TV host in not seeing the stories I wanted to be a part of, so I decided to make my own. Ophelia's Opera was the story of a young woman trying to escape an abusive relationship. I wanted to tell it in an experimental way although people warned me that black audiences are not used to thinking creatively and would not get it. I am very proud of that film. That project lead to me doing a documentary called Knives in My Throat (www.myspace.com/knivesinmythroat) about my lead actress Taqiyya Haden. Knives in My Throat tells the untold story of depression and bipolar disorder in the young, African American community. It also deals with race, gender, adoption and family politics. Both of these films are on my website, in addition to information on my other films including Stranded, the short I shot in Germany.

T: What is the mission and passion behind The Goddess Factory?

A: The Goddess Factory is the name of my production company. The passion and mission behind everything that I do is using pop culture to uplift and inspire. To make people think differently. To talk about emotions, politics, sex, power and things that are taboo in our communities. In addition, my mission is doing all of these things while entertaining. Hopefully, I have done so with my art films, my TV show and my novel DARE.

T: How does your heritage, faith, and wisdom lead you to create?

A: I am a first generation American. My family is from Guyana in South America. When I was a child, my parents told me stories on a daily basis ranging from African-derived Anansi tales to Shakespeare. So I come from a tradition of artistic storytelling, with a respect for the spoken and written word. In addition, faith for me is everything. I stubbornly refuse to be unhappy because of my faith and belief. I urge everyone reading this to read Maya Angelou's poem Still I Rise. (http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/still-i-rise/) There is a line" I am the dream and the hope of the slave." Do you know how powerful that is? Anytime I might want to %#&@$! and complain, I think of that. Slaves could not have even imagined me. What do I have to complain about?

T: What advice do you have for first time film makers?

A: My advice is more for first time artists than filmmakers, as I consider myself an artist first in anything that I do. Believe in yourself. Have a mission statement and a vision. Nobody else will see and believe in your vision the way that you do. Take the time and do the research for what you are seeking to do. Someone has done some version of it, although not on your exact path. Read their biography and then create your own story.

T: Where can we pick up the book, Dare?

A: Dare was released by Simon and Schuster / Pocket Books and it's available wherever you buy books Amazon, Barnes and Noble etc. If people go to my interactive website: www.abiolabrams.com, they will find ways to get deeper into the story, contests and more. It's Black Expressions January selection so it can be found there too. Pick one up because I was told that the "fad of black and Latin women reading had passed." Crazy! The book is motivational and was inspired by both my love for hip hop, and the feeling that I came into as a young adult that hip hop no longer loved me. People will love the characters and the story.

T: So, what's next for Abiola?

A: Check out my new daily online show on blackplanet.com called Planet Abiola. You can link to it through my site. It's a lot of fun. Everything I do has energy behind it. So Dare is more than a novel, it's a movement, the DARE movement about inspiring us to live big, beautiful outrageous lives politically, emotionally sexually. In addition, The Best Shorts is filling an important void. On my myspace page: www.myspace.com/goddessfactory, I receive so many daily emails shouts of love and people asking for advice. So I will continue to build love for my audience using the web, TV, books and film.

T: Sis thank you so much for your time and insight.

A: Thanks for sharing this time with me. I love and appreciate what you do, Tachelle.