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Detective Joe Johnson and his partner, Vernon Brown, are thrust into a chaotic situation with tense consequences as they find out what going postal is all about. While planning his partner's twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, Detective Johnson finds himself protecting his partner's wife, Gertrude, when they are taken hostage in the middle of a bloody massacre at the main postal facility in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. (aalbc.com)
Vincent Alexandria
page 2.
SP Bonita: I read that you’ve being writing since the age of seven. By attending college and obtaining your Masters degree in literature (Baker University) and a Bachelor’s in Psychology (Rockhurst College), enhance your writing skills? And do you feel one step in building your writing skills is to seek secondary education?
Vincent: Education is the cornerstone of your craft. I got my Masters in Literature, because I wanted to take myself seriously if I wanted to be a great writer. You have to study the craft of writing and you have to read just as much as you write. It amazes me at how many people say they want to write a book and haven’t read a book in 5 years. You grow through reading and learn from each book you read. You have to understand why it was a great book or a terrible book and use those lessons to guide your writing. You should at least know about and have read other author’s in the genre you plan to write.
SP Bonita: You’ve sold over 25,000 books, so I take it you do believe that Black Folks do read. How have your books been received by the Black reading market?
Vincent: My books have been sold in the mainstream and Black markets. African American Book Clubs have been my lifeline. Oh yes, we are reading, especially women. Now, if we can get the brother’s to read more, than we will really be closing the gap in communication and relationships. I would not be where I am today if not for the Black Book Stores and readers. I’ve traveled the country with Victor McGlothin, and Perry Brown. We were book pimps. We would sale books out of our cars, suitcases and anywhere else we could. We were selling books on the chittling circuit in the South, like old blues bands. (LOL) Black American reading is alive and well, but so is illiteracy and the drop out rate. Our people are like manic-depressives, we are on the extreme of both ends like we are bi-polar. People either read or don’t. NO middle ground. The sad thing is when you are in a mall at a book signing and a person will tell you in front of their children that they don’t read, or haven’t read since high school or college. The look in the child’s eyes is heart wrenching. The parent is actually teaching the child that reading is not important. With my non-profit organization, the Brother 2 Brother Literary Symposium, we are asking parents to be the example to the child and participate in reading with them. A child learns to read, by reading out loud.
SP Bonita: How did you actively market yourself after your first self-published book, If Wall Could Talk? What marketing tips do you have for other self-publishers on a strict budget?
Vincent: You have to get your friends and family involved to help market you. Any place you spend your money at, make them invest in you by selling your book or letting you put flyers in their store or do a book signing. Give your people a couple of dollars for each book they sell. Don’t go into a place with a “gimme attitude,” it should be a win-win situation. If you want to get on a radio show, give them some books to give-a-way. You can write it off on your taxes at the end of the year. Be creative. You do have to put money into some business cards to promote your book. You can get more great hints when I do my writing and marketing workshops coming to a city near you.
(Smile)
SP Bonita: How did this learning experience, ready you for future publications? Self publishing is excellent to learn the business of writing and publishing.
Vincent: You have to do your research. You can get books on writing and publishing on Amazon.com and www.booksjustbooks.com. Sarah Freeman has a great book out with do’s and don’ts on publishing.
SP Bonita: You are a brother who believes in giving back to the community. Please give our readers a glimpse into your Brother 2 Brother Literary Symposium and its’ goal to enlighten others in reading and comprehension as a way to enhance the quality of their lives. B2B literary Symposium is free and open to the public.
Vincent: We give free books at the event. I the founder of the Brother 2 Brother Literary Symposium which will be held in Houston, Texas February 1st and 2nd, 2008 at The Power Center. This is our fifth anniversary. We are being sponsored by the Houston Independent School District and Mayor’s Office. Its mission is to enlighten men and women in reading and comprehension in order to enhance their quality of life. Nationally published authors show a commitment to their communities by giving back to their readers in gratitude of what they have done for them and their careers. The website for the symposium is http://www.theliteraryevent.com/symposium.
This is a poetic compilation of soul stirring, moving, and provocative emotions from a romantic man of chivalry.
“The Light of Day” and “Dallas Deportment” are two erotic stories in the back of this poetry book
that you will need a cup of ice to read. They are sensually hot.
The poetry promises to be a passionate treat. (aalbc.com)
Click on book cover for Page 3
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