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Interview with Author Barry S. McLeod

9/23/2013

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1. Tell me a bit about yourself.
In addition to being an author of 4 books, I've written 16 screenplays and 12 stageplays. Numerous songs in which I play the instruments. I've been blessed to direct and produce plays and present them in various cities in Florida and Georgia. Reputable Film Producers and Directors have considered my work.


2. When did you first consider yourself a writer?
High school. I wrote poems. From there, songs.


3. What inspired you to write your first book?
My daughter. I wrote Men-Or-Pause. It started as a letter to my daughter who was 4 at the time. I wanted to show her some behaviors to expect in relationships. The letter turned into a book.


4. What books have influenced your life most?
I don't remember the titles but when I was 18 I started reading books by black writers. James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Eldridge Cleavor were among them. They were mainly books that dealt with Blacks in America.


5. If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Professor James Haskins, author of The Cotton Club. He was the first person of his caliber to review my work and tell me I had the potential as a writer.


6. Describe your writing in three words.
Realistic, jolting, humorous. 


7. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Play music. I love performing live.


8. Where do you get your ideas for your books?
I'm always captured by things going on in everyday ordinary people's lives.


9. What new author has grasped your interest?
Not sure I can answer that well. I know a few undiscovered writers [like myself] who are very talented.


10. If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?
An inventor. 


11. What was your favorite chapter to write and why?
Chapter 1: Janita. I very unintentionally broke her heart. I don't know where she is today but in my heart I want her to know that I'm sorry.


12. Why do you feel you had to tell this story?
It's twofold. 1- I want males to realize why they pick the actual women they do. 2- I'm committed to provoking people to be honest with themselves -- and face the mirror to become "better".

13. Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
My new book is 'Why I Did Them That Way'. It details my lifetime relationships. I share "true" accounts of the reason the relationships didn't work out [for me]. I share scenarios that actually happened and reveal the circumstances that made for the straw that broke the camel's back. People are making some of these very mistakes as we speak. Honest self-evaluation is a HUGE valuable asset for an individual. 


14. How do you think self-publishing has opened or closed doors for creative people?
It has given us a reason to "do our work" without excuses. What we write/release will always have potential. But when we hope that readers will give our work a try [just because] and haven't done good editing, story-telling etc. -- many times we hurt our potential dramatically. 


15. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Write 'your' TRUTH. Forget about what others are doing and saying. Be true to your own DNA. And don't worry ...NO ONE can reinvent the wheel!!
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