Interview with Michael F. Blake

1. Tell me a bit about yourself?
I’m a native of Chicago Illinois. I grew up with dreams and aspirations of being a basketball player but that was short lived due to certain circumstances. I am a father, an aspiring screenwriter; entrepreneur and a published author of an amazing three part series entitled "The Holy City "under Delphine Publication.

2. When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I came home, with the weight of the world on my shoulders, I stayed focused on writing and continued to work diligently on my second novel. I knew then that I was destined to be a story teller.

3. What inspired you to write your first book?
The idea of writing came to me during the darkest time of my life. Everyday while being incarcerated my creative imagination would play on my mind so much to the point I had to start jotting down ideas. The ideas soon blossomed into a developing novel.

4. What books have influenced your life most?
To be honest, I never was an avid reader so I can’t say a book influenced my life. I didn’t start reading novels until I began writing my own…To this day I am amazed on how fluidly my writing comes out being that I’m not a true reader.

5. If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
If I had to choose, It would be Donald Goines, Iceberg Slim, Sistah Soulja and of course Tamika Newhouse! Lol!

6. What book are you reading now?
Actually I’m finishing up a novel called “The Promise” by Chicago’s own T.S Weatherspoon.

7. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
First and foremost, spending time with my immediate family; and I also spend a lot of time looking into different business endeavors and lucrative investments.

8. Where do you get your ideas for your books?
I reflect on past and present memories of life around me as I know it.

9. What new author has grasped your interest?
I would have to say K.T Hodge, the author of “The Left Lane”…A great story.

10. If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?
I would probably be in the real estate field.

11. What was your favorite chapter to write and why?
I would have to say chapter 3 because it was the emancipation of my main character, Marcus.

12. Why do you feel you had to tell this story?
I always felt like the life that surrounded me in the past was meant to be a movie so I took advantage of the time I had to sit down and actually put it all down on paper.

13. Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
It’s a sequel to the first one…I basically answer all the lingering questions so many of my readers have about different issues that’s in progress with certain characters.

14. How do you market your book(s)?
Through major social networking, festivals, and personal book signings.

15. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
A few things…write for self-enjoyment. Be hands-on and knowledgeable on whatever topic you are writing about. Always have some sort of message in your writings, rather it be an obvious message or one that readers have to decode. Also, I believe success comes with keeping God first, being consistent, dedication, and staying true to your self.