WITH LITTLE TO NO marketing, Oakland author Mary B. Morrison recently landed on the New York Times bestseller list. Mainly by word of mouth and support from book clubs, her book series about erotica, sexuality, spirituality and male and female relationships is generating a buzz.

Her book, "When Somebody Loves You Back" released in August, landed on the Hardcover Fiction New York Times bestseller list. Another book, "She Ain't the One," released in October and co-authored with Carl Weber, also recently made the list.

"Seeing my book in Wal-Mart or in a window for the first time was exciting," said Morrison, 42. "It was definitely a milestone."

Writing is not only Morrison's passion but a second career of sorts.

Morrison moved from New Orleans to Oakland about 20 years ago. A single mother, she began raising her son and working for the government.

But in 1999, she quit her job of 14 years at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in San Francisco and spent her retirement money to write her first novel, "Soul Mates Dissipate." The book is loosely based on her relationship with a "soul mate."

Morrison said her turning point came when a HUD coworker retired and then died the next day. Morrison said that incident motivated her to start enjoying her life now instead of waiting until she was 65.

So, Morrison sat down and wrote her book based on ideas that had percolated in her mind for about seven years. Morrison finished

"I knew it was good enough to publish," she said. "I just couldn't sit back and wait for others to do something. I had to invest in myself."

Essence Magazine also recognized Morrison's work. It became a bestseller on the magazine's book list —and sold about 14,000 copies across the country.

"I had a lot of faith in my book," she said.

Morrison recently completed a screenplay of her book and plans to work with a local filmmaker to make it into a movie.

Morrison said she never took a journalism class or majored in English. Her writing ability is a gift from God, she said.

"I saw it in my head," said Morrison. "And I thought I could put it on paper."

The success of her first book helped Morrison score a book deal with Kensington Publishing Corp. to write three more books. According to her publisher, Morrison's book also is currently a bestseller at Wal-Mart.

So far, she has published six books with Kensington. Currently, Morrison is working on her new series, "Sweeter than Honey," which tackles issues of domestic violence and why some women stay in abusive relationships.

Although Morrison writes fiction, she said some of her work is based on her personal life experiences.

While growing up in a conservative household in Louisiana, her parents never talked with her about the "birds and bees," she said. When it came to conversations about sex they just said, "Don't do it."

Morrison said when she was a young girl she was molested by an elderly relative. As a high school student, she was raped and later when she married, she was a battered wife, Morrison said.

"I don't walk around like a scorned woman," said Morrison, sporting platinum blonde dreadlocks and a stylish pinstripe pants suit. "I'm very happy."

Her books explore the dynamics of male and female relationships. Morrison said she writes about sex and erotica to understand why people do what they do.

"I don't write hardcore, raunchy sex scenes," she said. "I have a passion for what I do and if you took out every sex scene, it would still be a good book."

Self-love is one of the recurring themes in all of her books, Morrison added.

In addition to her book deal with Kensington, Morrison also has three book deals with Warner Books. She currently is writing an erotica book series she calls "Sexcapades."

Morrison's latest New York Times bestseller, however, took about eight months to complete. She co-authored "She Ain't the One" with Weber who lives in New York. They e-mailed several chapters back and forth and teamed up to feature two of their favorite characters. Their book is a racy story about the ultimate player who has finally run into the wrong woman.

"I was so excited when my publisher called to tell me that we made the bestseller list," she said. "Making it on the list is one thing, but staying on it is another."

These days Morrison stays busy with her new book projects. She spends about six hours a day writing at various Starbucks around Oakland and sipping soy chai lattes. Morrison also is a poet and lecturer.

"Writing is such an isolated career," she said. "But I go to coffeehouses because I love being around people."

During her free time, Morrison offers support to her son, Jesse Byrd, and his dreams to play basketball in the NBA. Morrison attends her son's college basketball games and sometimes travels with his team.

But some of her greatest sources of inspiration often come from readers, she said.

"The best compliment is when a woman tells me she has become sexually liberated," Morrison said. "I love knowing when my books have helped others to grow."

For more information visit, http://www.marymorrison.com.

Staff writer Kamika Dunlap can be reached at kdunlap@angnewspapers.com.