I grew up in a neighborhood that was like a little United Nations—Black folks from Panama and the West Indies, Asians, Greeks, Italians, Jewish, Irish, Scottish, and more. Doors were always open, and birthday parties were a mix of all those cultures. As a kid, I thought everyone lived like that, with respect and kindness all around. Later, I realized how rare that truly was.
My own family was a blend of various cultures, and from a young age, I was surrounded by a wide range of music—from classical to pop, rock, R&B, Caribbean, Latin, Irish, jazz, calypso, salsa, merengue, bachata, and all the sounds that made movies come alive by bringing cultures and stories to life. Each style tells its own story, and I’ve always had a deep appreciation for them all. People are the spices of life, and we have so much to offer one another.
We had neighborhood watchers who made sure you couldn’t get away with doing wrong within a five-block radius. People treated each other with respect no matter where they came from. A simple “good morning” or “hello” was part of everyday life. It was an incredible way to grow up.
My love for storytelling started early. In first grade, I wrote my very first story inspired by a cartoon my Uncle Bernard drew—a boy kicking a can that said “Ouch.” My teacher read it to the class and told my mom to encourage me to keep writing. Drawing, playing, and telling stories was always part of me, but it wasn’t until 1985 that I finished my first full novel, When the Eagle Flies with the Dove, now called NEXFORMA (Death Formula).
The revised extended edition of The Color of Autumn is my magnum opus, kindling a flame I hope will be reborn, like the Phoenix rising anew.
I’m learning every day that a book doesn’t sell itself. It’s the readers and reviewers who bring it to life and share it with the world. It’s a tough journey, and I have mad respect for all Indie Authors out there pouring their heart and soul into their stories—and refusing to give away 70% of that to literary agencies.
No one loves your story more than you do. Your characters live and breathe with hearts, souls, minds, and emotions. I see myself as a modern-day minstrel, singing their stories on pages for anyone interested in reading and enjoying them.
Thanks for coming along on this journey with me.
