emerging writers

What if…?

/ J. A. Faulkerson / Leave a comment

ImageAs a child, I was an avid comic book reader.  X-Men, Avengers and Fantastic Four from Marvel, Justice League, Legion of Superheroes and Teen Titans from DC.  But if you had access to my footlocker filled with close to a thousand bagged comic books, you would probably conclude that I preferred Marvel comic books over the ones published by DC.

And you would be right.

One Marvel series that I got a kick out of reading asked one simple question: What if…?  The series featured the omnipresent and omnipotent Watcher, and placed a number of Marvel’s greatest heroes in precarious situations.  But as I inch closer to the end of my first novel, I also find myself thinking about its beginnings, how I too asked the question “What if…?”

What if black people were the powerful?  What would they do with all their power and influence?  Would they seek retribution and revenge for all the pain and suffering they had to endure under slavery and Jim Crow?  I tend to think they would use their power and influence to unite rather than divide.

Why, you ask?

Because they are enlightened to the fact all individuals and groups should be treated fairly, and are deserving of respect.

Does that mean they forget the sins that were and continue to be committed against them?  No.  If anything, they would do whatever is necessary to expose Jim Crow criminals and the companies that profited from the uncompensated labor provided by Africans and African Americans.  They would also enlighten Americans of all hues to the fact that Republicans in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the American government have been co-opted the most by the Corporate Cabal.  In this scenario, the Corporate Cabal’s very existence relies on maintaining a system of Haves and Have-Nots, with members of the Black Diaspora being cast in the role of bottom-feeders.  And in an era where the United States has elected its first black president, they will oppose Republican legislators who think it is good policy to make life more difficult for middle and working class Americans.

Stay tuned.

Demar Douglas: The Painter of Dreams

/ J. A. Faulkerson / Leave a comment

20140416-003024.jpg

One of the first things I did after completing the first 100 pages of my novel was decide whether I wanted to hire a professional artist to design a cover for me. Enter Demar Douglas, the Painter of Dreams.

I first met Demar while I was working the booth at a Connection Group Expo at my church. Demar approached my booth and asked questions about the new group that I had formed, the Storytellers’ Collaborative, and I responded in kind. I then asked him if he was a writer. He said no, but quickly added that he was an artist who worked with writers to provide visuals for their characters.

I hired Demar to illustrate the front and back covers of my soon-to-be released novel. It took him about three weeks to send over the final product. What he produced was amazing, and I can’t wait to share my purchased illustrations with the world.

While you’re waiting on the release of my first novel, I encourage you to visit Demar Douglas’s website (http://demardouglas.com/). This brother has skills, and I feel blessed to be working with him.

My First Novel

/ J. A. Faulkerson / Leave a comment

imageIn April 2013, I sat in front of my laptop computer and pounded out the first three chapters of my first novel.  Those first three chapters equated to about 33 pages, and I felt good about what I had produced.  But then I just suspended my work on the project, opting instead to develop another screenplay.

Before you rip into me, please understand the motivation behind my madness. I was living in Southern California, about 35 miles east of Hollywood.  I had dreams of writing screenplays that would get picked up by the major studios. While I produced one 90-minute dramatic screenplay, one 60 minute dramatic screenplay and one short screenplay during my two and a half year stint in California, I could sense that in Hollywood it’s not what you know and how you go about doing it, it’s about who you know in the industry.

There will come a time when I shift my attention back to screenwriting.  I love movies, and I would love to see actors bring my written words to life.  But when I re-read the first three chapters of my novel last November, it dawned on me that I may have something here.

I have added another 100 pages to those first 33.  I hope to complete the first draft of my three-book series in late May, early June 2014.  After that, I will settle down to edit, revise and rewrite my manuscript before uploading the final draft to Amazon’s CreateSpace (print) and KDP (ebook) publishing platforms.

I really don’t know what will happen after that.  I would be lying if I said just crossing the finish line is good enough for me.  Truth be told, I want my family, relatives, friends and acquaintances to purchase it, and then spread word about the novel’s release to their family, relatives, friends and acquaintances.

Writers write to be noticed.

Notice me.