THE REVIEW: “I've been a rabid bibliophile for as long as I can remember who continually chided my peers whom whimsically lambasted my ecstatic love of words and stories, but it is with literature as thought-provokingly genuine as this that I ebulliently reflect on said love.” —A.K. Kuykendall
AUTHOR BIO – SAQUAN JONES
Saquan Jones was born and raised in New York City and is the writer and director of the films: The Founders' Keeper and 10 Minutes. The Weight of the World is Jones' first novel. Jones has an undergraduate degree in History and Political Science and a graduate degree in Finance. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.
THE INTERVIEW:
1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
Writer/Director of 3 movies - Love Isn't Enough, 10 Minutes and The Founders' Keeper plus a web series called Life With Say. MBA in Finance from Pace University and a BA from Virginia Union University in History and Political Science. I went to undergrad to become a teacher. Dad at the age of 19 and ran for office in Brooklyn in 2009.
2. At what point in your life, did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I have always wanted to be a writer since I was a young boy. Writing has been my outlet and as an adult I wanted to go for it.
3. What are your most memorable or proudest moments in your writing career?
When my first feature film, The Founders’ Keeper, which I wrote and directed was accepted to the San Diego Black Film Festival.
4. Where would you like to see yourself in five years’ time?
Running Life With Say, LLC as a major production studio.
5. What advice do you wish you’d been given before starting your career in writing?
Writing the book is easy. Getting people to read it…now that is the hard part.
6. Tell us about the books you’ve written so far, and your plans for any future books?
The first and only book I have written so far is The Weight of the World and there will be 2 additional volumes to that series in the very near future.
7. Is there any part of your career, you find particularly challenging?
Being an independent author is tough because in order to be completely successful there must be some investment in marketing your work and if that isn't there it is going to be difficult to be successful, but with hardship come success and if you keep knocking on doors and handing out flyers eventually someone will listen.
8. Who do you feel, has supported you most, in your writing?
I think I received help from everyone, but the most support I have received is from complete strangers I have met on the street while I am handing out bookmarks for The Weight Of The World.
9. Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers?
First and foremost, thank you so much for your support and I am writing the other volumes The Weight Of The World as fast as possible.
10. Where can we find out more about you and your books?
Twitter - @saquanjones
Instragram - @lifewithsay
11. Tell us a little about your book.
After years of controversy and billions of dollars spent on scientific research, the United States government has finally discovered the cause of the global climate changes. With people living longer and humanity’s insatiable desire for material possessions, the planet is literally unable to sustain its own weight. The Weight Of The World has resulted in the Earth moving off of its orbital path and away from the sun. The World’s leaders are now charged with finding a sustainable solution to this problem and, more critically, deciding who should live and who should die. But, how can they decide these issues, when each of them carries secrets of their own? Secrets that will literally change the course of human history.
12. What were you attempting to convey in the artistry of your book cover?
I was attempting to convey to the reader that the world was dying. The bright colors shows the reader that the world is sick. The family within a dying world represents man’s desire to still defend and protect his family no matter how dire the situation is. Even though them problem is a global problem...the fight starts with each individual family.
13. What inspired you to write your book?
I truly believe our planet is dying; part in how we treat the earth and part due to our population explosion. I wanted to write a story that allows me to take those beliefs and make an entertaining story of it.
14. Are the character profiles based on people you know or are they completely drawn from your imagination?
Some of the characters are real people in my life and some are ones I have made up based on several people I have encountered. Even though, the characters are based on some real people most of their undesirable traits are purely from my imagination.
15. Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
A combination of both. I believe a truly great writer is writing from his/her experiences and in order to have experience that writer must observe the world in real life and not from screen.
16. Which part of the book, in your opinion, was the most difficult to write?
The portion of how the leaders of the world view poor people and other ethnicities. Based on what is going on in today’s society, I believe that is how many of our leaders feel behind closed doors.
17. What parts of the book do you love, in particular?
There is a love triangle in the book and that was enjoyable to write because has you write the page your imagination takes you for a ride and you almost feel everything your writing.
18. Tell us about the cover design of your book.
The bright orange and yellow colors are to represent a sick world. When people are sick we turn a different color in a lot of instances and I want the world to be reflected as being ill. If you look close to the image of the world there are evil faces staring back at the family letting the reader know the family has an enemy. The family represents who is effects within this story and how they will most likely respond to protect themselves.
19. Which ways have you chosen to market your book?
I am self-marketing via social media, word of mouth and placing copies of the book in book stores with consignment agreements.
20. If you had to do it all over again, is there anything you’d change?
Nothing at all. I just turned 40 and everything I do…I do it with calculation. Everything may not work, but I am enjoying every bit of the ride.
21. Where can we find out more or buy the book?
Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble (BN.com)
22. Who are you?
Just a guy that writes to satisfy the voices in my head.
23. What are the titles of your books?
I only have on book so far: The Weight of the World, but I have written 3 movies.
24. Who is your favourite author?
Stephen King
25. Worst book you have ever read?
No book is bad. There is a gem in every literary work.
26. What book are you reading now?
Rise of the King by Bryan Hussein Johnson (Frat Brother…YO!! YO!!)
27. Your favourite quote about writing/authors:
“If you want to feel the most pleasurable misery… be an author!!” —Saquan U. Jones
28. Your biggest inspiration:
Wanting my book to be mistaken for the Bible once the zombie apocalypse is over.
29. Something you can’t live without:
A woman and my kids
30. Your pet-hate:
People that don’t say ‘Thank you’
31. Your favourite place to be:
Home during football season
32. Something you like/love about yourself?
My hair
33. Something you’d change about yourself
Nothing…I am perfectly flawed
34. Your ideal life would be:
My kids doing what I tell them without stomping their feet.
Pragmatic author A.K. Kuykendall has a passion for writing conspiracy, espionage, horror, and suspense literature that blend the concepts of fact and fiction. For more information on his projects, visit http://www.thewriterofbooks.com/list-of-works/ or, to email the author directly for Q&A on this post, write to info@thewriterofbooks.com.
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