Interview with Yanatha Desouvre, author of Revelations: Roads to Redemption (A Grayson Goodman Novel)
Author’s Bio:
Professor Desouvre is an educator and public speaker born in Port-au-Prince,
Haiti and raised in Brooklyn and Philadelphia. He earned a Bachelor of
Science in Business Administration with a focus on Management Information
Systems and Marketing from Drexel University. He received an MBA, with a focus
on Marketing, Mass Communication, and Media Management from Lynn University.
DL: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
YD: The advice I give aspiring writers is to not give up. Everyone has a story to tell. Only you can tell your story be it a fictional or non-fictional one. Hire an editor, the best investment you can make for your writing. I am beyond grateful for my editor Desiree McKim whose marvelous meticulousness was priceless in Savor the Moments: Inspired by True Stories and my college textbook An Essential Guide to Windows 10. I’m also grateful for Michèle-Jessica (M.J.) Fièvre - her guidance, coaching, and editing really help me grow as a writer.
It’s been a pleasure having you here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.
Dee, it was a pleasure and thank you for the opportunity. As I always say, “Success comes with support. We only fail in this life when we fail to uplift one another.”
His literary works
include Walk Through this Journey Volume One (2006), Volume Two (2008), A Family Affair (2010), Savor the Moments (2014),
Proud to Be (2016), and his best-selling children’s
book Big Sister, Little Sister (2013) available in French,
Spanish and Haitian Creole. He is also the author of An Essential Guide to Windows
10 (2015). He’s a Marketing and Information Technology coach and
consultant who has taught at Miami Dade College and Chestnut Hill College. Audiobooks
for Walk Through this Journey (Volume One) and Savor
the Moments are available on iTunes and other platforms.
DL: What’s the inspiration for writing your book?
YD: My action adventure
thriller novel, Revelations: Roads to
Redemption (A Grayson Goodman Novel) was inspired by many things, from love for my Haitian culture,
where each chapter gives honor to Haitian proverbs, (which are translated into
English as well). Dee, the action adventure/thriller genre is one of my
favorite genres to read, so I wrote a book that I would enjoy reading. Finally,
my latest novel pays homage to one of favorite Hip Hop groups, the Fugees. Each
chapter is a title song from a Wyclef, Lauryn Hill and Pras song, (my way of
bringing the band back together.) If Wyclef is reading this interview I’d love
to get in contact with him because I have a vision that I’d love to share with him
and it has to do with the Goodman Chronicles.
DL: Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in
any way either growing up or as an adult?
YD: Dee, yes, the Ian Fleming
James Bond books, put me in a world of adventure and espionage and danger which
I committed putting in my latest novel. Growing up and still today I read comic
books. Stan Lee created Spiderman but what still sticks with me today is the
character of Peter Parker, whom despite having these great powers still struggles
yet he overcomes a lot of his challenges with his heart and mind not his
superpowers.
DL: How long did it take to write your book?
YD: It took me about six months
to a year to write this book. I use my birthday as a catalyst for my writing or
any project I hope to accomplish. Recently, I celebrated my 40th
birthday (an age I never thought I would see) by skydiving with my Brooks
Brother bow tie in tow and my book cover taped to my chest here is the link https://youtu.be/46w9kM-Q3Uk. Talk about taking things to new heights, 10,000
feet to be exact.
DL: Do you write with an outline, or just let it flow organically?
YD: I tried to write an
outline, however that didn’t work for me. With all my writings from poetry to
writing a novel or short story, I start with the end in mind and go backwards.
So, it goes organically but backwards. I know the ending is the creative and
most fun part of the writing for me is to conjure how did we (the characters,
readers) get there. Revelations: Roads to
Redemption is the second part of the Goodman Chronicles (no, you don’t have
to buy the first book to understand and appreciate the second novel.) I have at
least a trilogy in mind and a young adult version of the Goodman Chronicles in the
queue in my mind set in the 1990’s right before the age of the internet.
DL: Do you listen to music when you write? If yes, is there a
theme song for this book?
YD: Dee, I sometimes do,
Miles Davis, John Coltrane even Kenny G or Maxwell. A great friend of mind thinks
that Maxwell’s “The Urban Theme” should be Grayson Goodman’s (one of the main
characters in Revelations: Roads to Redemption) theme song. Maxwell, if you are
reading this let’s have a conversation.
DL: What are the keys to success in marketing your book(s)?
YD: For me, the keys to
success in marketing my books are establishing genuine relationships with
individuals in my local media, bloggers, news anchors, etc. I create press
releases, book trailers etc. I also use the promo codes the iBooks offers as
well as the KDP Kindle Promotions for free giveaways etc. I write articles on
LinkedIn. I also have press releases for each event that I have coming up. I
join various Facebook and LinkedIn groups where I post those press releases,
giveaways, book trailers as well. I even encourage a childhood friend of mine
to manufacture and assemble action figures for my characters. I was in awe when
I saw them. Below is the link to one of the book trailers for Revelations: Roads to
Redemption https://youtu.be/A3cyKGCTRFoDL: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
YD: The advice I give aspiring writers is to not give up. Everyone has a story to tell. Only you can tell your story be it a fictional or non-fictional one. Hire an editor, the best investment you can make for your writing. I am beyond grateful for my editor Desiree McKim whose marvelous meticulousness was priceless in Savor the Moments: Inspired by True Stories and my college textbook An Essential Guide to Windows 10. I’m also grateful for Michèle-Jessica (M.J.) Fièvre - her guidance, coaching, and editing really help me grow as a writer.
DL: How about sharing an excerpt from Revelations: Roads to Redemption?
Excerpt from Revelations: Roads to Redemption
chapter 13 /
Fast Cars "Malè pa gen
klaksonn." [Misfortune has no horn.]
Dominique cautioned them. “Based on the current speeds
of both vehicles, you and the gray car are about to crash into one another.
This would completely disable yours.”
As Zoklo placed the palm of his hand on his head in
disbelief, Amara’s voice took on a combative tone. “That is not going to
happen!”
Dominique said, “He can’t catch up to us, guys, or we
are toast! Do you see the two red buttons on the steering wheel? Those buttons
release NOS, which temporarily increases your acceleration.”
Grayson looked at the buttons that read N2O,
nitrous oxide. In a daring tone, he said, “Q70L, show me what you can do.”
Dominique said, “Floor it.”
Grayson turned his neck in a counterclockwise motion –
crack – as he prepared to push the
car to its limits. With a devilish grin, he pressed his right foot on the gas
pedal until there wasn’t any space between the sole of his shoes and the floor
of the car.
At the same time, Grayson pushed the two NOS buttons.
Zoklo held his breath and gripped the car’s “oh, crap” handle to hold on for
dear life. As Zoklo looked outside the window at streams of colors, everything
was blurry because of how fast they were moving. Then – SWOOSH – the car
appeared to be reaching new heights, leaving the city below it.
DL: What’s next for you?
YD: For two years now, I’ve been working on a
posthumous project to bring to life the lost, not found recordings of my late
godfather/uncle Daniel Coulanges who died at the young age of 28 years. My
godfather/uncle was introduced as one of the World’s Finest guitarist. This
project is near and dear to me. I am short $1,267 to raise the funds to
manufacture, master, produce and pay for the licensing fees to make this
“World’s Finest” posthumous album, not only to bring his music to life but to
also raise awareness about everyone knowing their HIV status. My
godfather/uncle Daniel Coulanges died of HIV/AIDS in 1989 when it was a death
sentence. It was only two years later Magic Johnson made his HIV announcement.
With this project I want to encourage everyone to live their lives to the
fullest and make the most of everyday because you never know.
Here
is the Indiegogo link https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/world-s-finest-daniel-coulanges-live-in-ny-xii#/ Reserve your World’s
Finest album and much more today.
I’ll
continue to raise funds for this project and until we reach our goal Dee. I’ll
continue because writing is less expensive than therapy for me and I love it.
I’ve been writing since I was seven.
DL: Where can readers find out more about you and
your book(s)?
·
Facebook: @aspire2inspirenow
·
Twitter: @yanatha
·
Book Buy Links: Exclusive
1978 Signature Edition with Free Shipping available via http://www.yanatha.com
·
Instagram
@goodmanchronicles
·
Hardback
here: http://www.lulu.com/shop/yanatha-desouvre/revelations-roads-to-redemption-a-grayson-goodman-novel/hardcover/product-23597695.html
It’s been a pleasure having you here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.
Dee, it was a pleasure and thank you for the opportunity. As I always say, “Success comes with support. We only fail in this life when we fail to uplift one another.”
#CHM #CAHM.
Comments
Post a Comment