This is an older interview I had with Milton Davis
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
A college instructor summoned me to her office after reading one of my essays and ask me why I was a chemistry major. She was impressed with my writing apparently. At the time I was a big scifi fan so I decided to give it a try.
Describe your perfect writing environment.
It depends. I prefer to write longhand, usually laying on the floor with my journal listening to jazz. During football season the jazz is replace by TV.
What are your morning rituals?
I have a nine to five but I get up early enough to do a little writing before I go to work. A page a day is my motto.
Tell us about your publishing journey.
I'm an independent writer, which means I'm self published. I went through the mainstream publishing process years ago, working my way up from form rejections to comments from editors with my rejections. I figured at that point I was a decent writer but I wasn't writing what editors wanted to publish. A few years later I went through my African enlightenment and knew exactly what I wanted to write. I didn't think it would agree with the market so I decided to self publish. It's been tougher than I imagined but I'm enjoying the results. I'm doing what I want the way I want and that's great.
What books have most influenced your life most?
One book stands out in my mind the most. Dune by Frank Herbert was the first scifi book that blew me away. I still hold it up as the standard for world building scifi. The other book is Imaro by Charles R. Saunders. I discovered his book after I completed Meji and Changa's Safari. It was the book I wished I had read when it was first released.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Most of my favorite authors right now are self published. Valjeanne Jeffers, Edward Uzzle, Ronald T. Jones, Carole McDonnell and you are on my list. I also like David Anthony Durham and Joe Abercrombie.
Do you find it difficult to write different genres?
Sword and Soul comes easy for me. I like to write scifi and I've been told my scifi is good but I'm less confident with it. I've played with other genres and I think I could give them a good go but I'm not interested.
Tell us about the world you’ve created for Meji.
Meji takes place on the fictional continent of Uhuru. It's an alternate Africa where the various cultures of the Motherland are drawn closer in order for me to play with interactions that would not have existed in Africa. There a lot of imagination thrown in as well.
What is the title of your latest book?
My latest book is Changa's Safari. It's the first in a four book adventure about Changa Diop, 15th century Swahili merchant whose adventures take him throughout the Spice Trade world. Changa is also a Kongo prince who escaped death at a young age and has vowed to return home to claim his kingship. It's different from Meji, more action-adventure than epic.
What’s on the horizon?
I'm currently working on a Sword and Soul anthology with Charles R. Saunders titled Griots. It's a special project for both of us and a first of its kind. I'm also working on two other novels and hustling to have the second installment of Changa's Safari ready for next fall.
A lot of urban audiences are not drawn to fantasy/horror/thrillers/mysteries. Please shed some light on what makes them good reads.
I think all these genres offer an escape from the daily reality of our lives. That's the reason why I read them. I think urban audiences would read more of these genres if they were exposed to them. We like to see ourselves in what we read and we haven't been represented in these genres. That's changing.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Take writing classes, join a critique group of writers better than you, write constantly and read constantly. Be open to criticism but learn how to distinguish positive criticism from personal attack. And if you working toward mainstream publication be patient and persistent.
Parting words.
Thank you for the opportunity, D K.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. It was a pleasure interviewing you.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
A college instructor summoned me to her office after reading one of my essays and ask me why I was a chemistry major. She was impressed with my writing apparently. At the time I was a big scifi fan so I decided to give it a try.
Describe your perfect writing environment.
It depends. I prefer to write longhand, usually laying on the floor with my journal listening to jazz. During football season the jazz is replace by TV.
What are your morning rituals?
I have a nine to five but I get up early enough to do a little writing before I go to work. A page a day is my motto.
Tell us about your publishing journey.
I'm an independent writer, which means I'm self published. I went through the mainstream publishing process years ago, working my way up from form rejections to comments from editors with my rejections. I figured at that point I was a decent writer but I wasn't writing what editors wanted to publish. A few years later I went through my African enlightenment and knew exactly what I wanted to write. I didn't think it would agree with the market so I decided to self publish. It's been tougher than I imagined but I'm enjoying the results. I'm doing what I want the way I want and that's great.
What books have most influenced your life most?
One book stands out in my mind the most. Dune by Frank Herbert was the first scifi book that blew me away. I still hold it up as the standard for world building scifi. The other book is Imaro by Charles R. Saunders. I discovered his book after I completed Meji and Changa's Safari. It was the book I wished I had read when it was first released.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Most of my favorite authors right now are self published. Valjeanne Jeffers, Edward Uzzle, Ronald T. Jones, Carole McDonnell and you are on my list. I also like David Anthony Durham and Joe Abercrombie.
Do you find it difficult to write different genres?
Sword and Soul comes easy for me. I like to write scifi and I've been told my scifi is good but I'm less confident with it. I've played with other genres and I think I could give them a good go but I'm not interested.
Tell us about the world you’ve created for Meji.
Meji takes place on the fictional continent of Uhuru. It's an alternate Africa where the various cultures of the Motherland are drawn closer in order for me to play with interactions that would not have existed in Africa. There a lot of imagination thrown in as well.
What is the title of your latest book?
My latest book is Changa's Safari. It's the first in a four book adventure about Changa Diop, 15th century Swahili merchant whose adventures take him throughout the Spice Trade world. Changa is also a Kongo prince who escaped death at a young age and has vowed to return home to claim his kingship. It's different from Meji, more action-adventure than epic.
What’s on the horizon?
I'm currently working on a Sword and Soul anthology with Charles R. Saunders titled Griots. It's a special project for both of us and a first of its kind. I'm also working on two other novels and hustling to have the second installment of Changa's Safari ready for next fall.
A lot of urban audiences are not drawn to fantasy/horror/thrillers/mysteries. Please shed some light on what makes them good reads.
I think all these genres offer an escape from the daily reality of our lives. That's the reason why I read them. I think urban audiences would read more of these genres if they were exposed to them. We like to see ourselves in what we read and we haven't been represented in these genres. That's changing.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Take writing classes, join a critique group of writers better than you, write constantly and read constantly. Be open to criticism but learn how to distinguish positive criticism from personal attack. And if you working toward mainstream publication be patient and persistent.
Parting words.
Thank you for the opportunity, D K.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. It was a pleasure interviewing you.
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