When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I always wrote, but I started writing professionally with erotic poetry and stories for the fans on my social media pages. Yahoo groups, MSN Groups were the main places I displayed my work. Nevertheless, in 2006 when I gave my life to the Lord the focus of my writing changed. I decided I couldn’t continue to write the types of works I had made a name with and serve the Lord. My works became inspirational and centered on uplifting folks in various ways. I haven’t turned back since and my works have been highly received.
How long does it take you to write a book?
There is no set time for me to give. Unlike many authors who feel they need to write every day, I am not that way. I have to force myself to sit down and finish work I’ve started. A Man in Transition my first book, only took a few months. It’s a collection of poems and inspirations I had placed on various sites. It wasn’t difficult to complete. My second book, “From Gigolo to Jesus” took much longer. Writing your memoir is difficult on its own, but for me it was deciding whose names I was going to leave out. I started in 2006 and didn’t release the book until 2011.
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
My work schedule changes when writing because I am a full time educator and publisher. So when I’m writing I have to work in getting those things done as well. I also have to push myself to complete projects because I love to talk but sitting at my computer doesn’t move me like many other authors. I write because I like to and enjoy the process but at times it can feel like a chore. Currently I am working on going back to recording my work and allowing someone to transcribe the work which I can then send to my editor to edit. I have started to plan out my writing more with having so much to do. One has to take on the skills of the successful if they are to be successful themselves.
What is your latest release and what's next?
My latest release is Lukewarm Saint. My first attempt at writing fiction. I have written short stories but this is the first time I am trying my hand at writing a novel. This book is going to be close to 50,000 words. Plus it’s a genre I don’t have a strong history with since my last book was my memoir. I took on the challenge because I wanted to create the type of story I would like to read.
In this story a handsome educator, named Kevin, loves to entertain different women, but he starts to have guilty feelings which begin to tug at his spirit. He’s not sure why but it pulls him in different directions. He has two friends, Richard, James. Richard is reformed drug dealer who loves his family and love his connection to the Lord as a born again Christian. He does what he can to convince Kevin to change his life. While, James is the owner of a strip club and has the mind set a man should do what he wants to as many women as he can. He feeds the womanizing side of Kevin.
Kevin also has his mother and grandmother doing what they can to convince him to change his current path or he will end up like his father and grandfather. Their fates are explained within the story. All of this comes to an explosive situation which brings about a choice Kevin has to make.
I’m also one of the writers in an upcoming anthology titled The Soul of A Man, 2. (Peace in the Storm Publishing) Set for release on Christmas Day. This anthology brings twenty men of color to the table to express themselves in inspirational ways through the power of the written word. The first book The Soul of a Man was released in 2009. Thirteen men of color writing fictional and nonfictional stories of men overcoming negative situation through their faith. We won 2009 Anthology of the Year. It was an honor to be asked to take part in the second book after the success of the first.
Excerpt from:
Lukewarm Saint
Kevin’s mother stopped sweeping and stared at his face.
“What’s wrong, baby? You look like you have a lot of stress on your mind. Come on in.”
“Ma, I wanted to kick it with you a little bit. I wanted to ask you something.”
“All right. Go ahead.”
“You know Richard and James. We’ve been boys...”
Before Kevin could finish his mother cut him off, “Yeah, I know. You’re whole life. You and Richard were like twins, and James came when you were 10. Yeah, I know the whole story. You have been boys your whole lives.” Kevin’s mother was trying cut the small talk, sensing there was a problem.
“Yeah, but Ma, things are different now.”
“What do you mean, different? Talk to me, son.”
Kevin took a big swallow and decided to speak on what was bothering him.
“James said something to me last night, and I have to admit it’s been eating at me.”
“Okay. What happened?”
“He said that he and I are the same and the life I’m living is just as sinful as the life he’s living and that can’t be true, right?” Kevin’s eyes faced the ground out of fear his mother was not going to say anything favorable. Kevin’s mother placed her soft but wrinkled hands on his face and lifted his chin up from his chest. As only a mother who loves her child could, she spoke frankly as she had his whole life.
“What do you want, the good news first or the bad news?”
“You know me. Give me the bad news.”
“Well, son, James is right. You are living just as sinful as he is. You didn’t need me to tell you that. So please tell me what is really bothering you.”
Kevin reluctantly asked, “So what the hell is the good news?”
“Well, the good news, son, is you have some understanding of the Lord. James doesn’t, so he’s further lost than you are.”
“All right, okay, help me out here. I mean, I read the Bible, and I go to church with you on Sundays, but I am not sure I understand what you are saying? If sin is sin, there is no difference, so there can’t be a good side.”
Kevin’s mother smiled as she listened to her son.
“What I’m saying is imagine both of you are drowning. James is in over his head, and you’re up to about your nose, so you are still getting a little air in. James is under the water and can’t see where he is."
Kevin nodded, more out of feeling the need to do something than from him fully understanding his mother.
“Son,” his mother continued, “what’s happening now is your Holy Spirit is being tossed back and forth because of the relationships you have with your friends. The Bible is clear. It says to flee all sinful situations and here you have a friend who makes his living off sinful situations, which means every time you get together, his sinful nature is brought to your table. But you have your own problems. You have become your grandfather, and so James, not realizing it, is speaking the truth.
This Ebony Cover is from Feb 2012 when the wife and I were feature for my book From Gigolo to Jesus and our company Bravin Publishing
Contact info
Lukewarm Saint, Inspirational Fiction
From Gigolo to Jesus, Memoir,
A Man In Transition, Poetry
Word Play 1, Words are our Canvas, Poetic anthology (Featured)
Soul of a Man 1, Inspirational Anthology
Soul of a Man 2, Inspirational Anthology
Featured in many other anthologies and short stories and owner of Bravin Publishing LLC est 2010 with 17 titles to date. www.BravinPublishing.com
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