I wish to welcome you to my website, and thank you for your motivation to learn more about this fascinating story, “Voices of Redemption.” My debut novel was inspired by a combination of unique experiences. Although I love writing fiction, it is no secret that fiction mirrors real life, only in a more compelling form. Thus my search was always on to tell a unique story in a compelling and humorous fashion, full of characters we might be lucky enough to meet in just a few lifetimes.
The first two stories I chose were unique, but each was made into top selling movies before the demands of my life brought my fingers to the keyboard. For years I worked as a teacher in metro-Atlanta by day and a FED Ex courier by night. Somebody wrote and produced “The Substitute” while I was still agonizing over how to turn my experience as a substitute teacher in the 90’s into a compelling story. It was now back to what many call the drawing board, or what a writer calls a lookout for that special story.
Just before 911, I was riding in a Fed Ex plane, as many employees often did, when I looked at the piles of dangerous goods in the rear of the plane, and wondered what if the plane exploded and sent me to a place which I could not return from. Three months later, an awesome rendering of vision was done—far better than anything I could have dreamed of—and expertly captured this environment in the movie “Castaway.” Yet it was an accident at Fed Ex that actually proved to be a real blessing in disguise, because it not only allowed me to pursue one job (mostly) which was teaching. It taught me to trust my vision. My evenings, now free, took me back to church, and Men’s Choir rehearsal. Frankly speaking, I often wondered what right I had to be there initially. Don’t misunderstand, I love the Lord. I also carry a nice voice and love to sing. But for years I believed that to come anywhere near that pulpit—even if just to sing—required the most optimum level of salvation. Why did I think that? Because I fear the Lord. Why did I join the choir anyway? The best of men still fall down sometimes, and those men couldn’t be that much better than me—or could they?
So here I was one night, not looking for anything in particular, when some of the brothers spoke about their past lives as sinners. I was moved, witnessing remorseful but strong men of God who loved the Lord more than anything I can imagine. One evening we seriously dialogued about what kind of life a choir member should live if he is to be bold enough to sing about it. Only on occasion did I witness a few who were so plastic that their main concern was what angle the camera may catch their good side on a Sunday morning. And talk about singing from the heart! I’m from Motown, and I know soul. These Brothers are deep! But as interesting, funny, vocally challenged or gifted they and their voices were, I knew I had to pay homage and reverence to these men if I was going to tell a compelling story properly. I also knew it needed more real life ingredients to add to this brotherhood if it was going to be interesting. The answer? Add the love between a man and a woman, jealous rivalries, real life family issues, a bunch of humor, plus writing from the heart. How did I do it? Read the book and see.
My first book signing will be Saturday, December 15, 2007 from 3:30-6:00 p.m. at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History. It is located at 101 Auburn Avenue , Atlanta , Ga. 30303 (at the corner of Courtland). We will meet in the Auditorium and enjoy some Apple Cider too. God Bless You as you enjoy a great holiday story!
