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| Silver Fox's Den
INTERVIEW |
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| George Cook III
poet - author activist |
| SF - Why and when did you start writing creatively?
GCIII - I started writing when I was about 9 years old. It was right after Star Wars came out. I wanted to write a black Star Wars. I occasionally still write sci fi but those stories will never see the light of day. SF - Where do you get the inspiration for your poems and stories? GCIII - My inspiration comes from just living. I write most of my poetry after something has mad me angry or something said or done has mad me think on a topic in a way I never had before. SF - Are there parts of you contained in your works? GCIII - Most definitely. My poem HATE ME AMERICA was written right after I had a run in with some people who had no other problem with me than I was a black man. The sad part is that they were black women. SF - Do you identify with any one particular character? If so how? GCIII- I have a character from an unfinished book whose name is Lee who means well but is about as tactful as a sledge hammer when it comes to getting his point across. SF - What genre(s) are you most comfortable with? GCIII - Poetry of course and then as mentioned earlier, science fiction. Every once in a blue moon I will write an article for a web site or newsletter. SF - Where do you hope to see your creative career go? GCIII - I would like for it to go in many directions. Since we last spoke I have an online talk show LTH WEEKLY where I interview authors and community leaders and in March of 2006 I started my own e-publishing company to publish my eBooks. I one day hope to be on commercial radio and maybe even on television. SF - Have your life experiences influenced your work? If so , how? GCIII - My experiences have affected my writing tremendously. Even on a year to year basis. My first book written last year Let's Talk Honestly "My Poetry" would not be the same book today because I have meet many more positive black people and know that things can change. SF - What, if anything, would you like to share about you , the person? GCIII - I would tell everyone to expect the unexpected. I can be a confusing person to understand. I have people who have known me all my life and were surprised by my writing, my online radio show, and even the fact that I could pull it off. I would also say that while I'm no where near a genius when I want to I can do almost anything if I set my mind to it. just check my web site for proof. That's all me I'm the webmaster, writer, everything. SF - How has your transition to publication gone? GCIII - Initially just fine. I sold about 400 books right off the bat. But even though I can do almost anything when I put my mind to it I can also be too fast and I didn't plan right for advertising and selling myself. SF - What would you like to do differently the next time? GCIII - Well for my second book Let's Talk Honestly Volume 2 I still self published but in an eBook format so now I have complete control from cover design and content and I can personally complete all facets of my book. SF - To whom do you seek advice and / or support from? GCIII - EVERYONE. I have many readers that come to my site and many people I consider mentors who grab me by the ear every once in awhile to keep me in line. But I would have to say my wife Quanda is my biggest adviser. If she doesn't like something it probably wont go over well with my audience. SF - When can your fans expect to enjoy your work again? GCIII - My second book of poetry Let's talk Honestly Volume 2 was released in March 2006 and is available only at my site www.letstalkhonestly.com as an eBook for only $2. SF - How can your fans reach you? GCIII - [email protected] or [email protected] SF - Do you have any presently scheduled events for the next few months? GCIII - I have several interviews upcoming . SF - What books / poetry / artwork have you read / seen lately that you would like to recommend? GCIII - The last book I read was How To Rent a Negro by Damali Ayo. SF - What is your idea of fun? GCIII - Playing with my daughter. Coaching young kids in football, watching and playing sports and believe it or not the business of doing business. SF - What experiences do you hope to one day have? GCIII- I would love to meet Amiri Baraka the famous poet from Newark NJ (I'm also a NJ resident) I would like to meet Nelson Mandela and I would like to travel the entire world at least once. SF - What places do you still wish to travel to? GCIII - Africa, I believe all Black People should go there once. I would also like to go to England I have many fans there. SF - Do you have an agent and if not are you looking for one? GCIII - No I don't I've heard too many conflicting things about them but at know at some point I have to have one. It's the old Don King Theory, yeah he stole a few thousand but what was left is more than I ever got paid before. SF -How many not yet to be released works do you have keeping warm on the back burner? GCIII - Smile...Oh 2 or 3 SF - Who did your cover for you? GCIII - I designed the cover myself. as i said I want complete control of my work. SF - Off all of your works which is your favorite? GCIII - Let's talk Honestly Volume 2 because it is more along the lines of what I wanted the first book to be and includes some poems from the first book that have been edited more to my liking. SF - When and where / what type of environment are you most creative in? GCIII - I work for Fed Ex at my real job and while I'm delivering packages is when I come up with most of my ideas. I'm alone while on the road so all I can do is think. SF - What other talents should everyone know you have? GCIII - As I said before I have an online radio show at the site and I'm a pretty decent basketball player. SF - Outside of your present career , are there any other avenues you would still like to pursue? GCIII - I intend to run for councilman in my town in 2007 as politics interest me. Wish me luck. SF - Where would you like to see your life five years from now? GCIII- Five years from now I would like to think that to someone somewhere I have made a difference with my socially conscience poetry and daily thoughts on my web site. To be quite honest with you I would love to be on my way to having an online multimedia empire. SF - Anyone out there you like to acknowledge? GCIII - My Wife, my daughter Brittany, My mother for stressing education, my father for stressing discipline and patience .I would like to thank a Mrs. Delores Thornton for all her help. I would like to thank you for this interview and all my loyal readers and listeners of my web site. George L. Cook III www.letstalkhonestly.com African American Poetry , Literature & Talk Show SF - I'd like to thank George Cook III for taking the time to be interviewed. I noticed he was modest in admitting how much time he puts into helping promote self published authors. He has poetry contests every week then has another where the winners from each weekly contest compete for a prize. I first learned about his site LetsTalkHonestly.com from three poets all in the same week. If it truly, "takes a village" to raise and uplift a child, George is a very active member of the village. I have enjoyed talking with and sharing ideas with Mr. Cook and look forward to reading his next book. I suspect it will out sell his debut collection as he has grown a lot in the short time since he first published. I hope my readers will visit his site, listen to his radio program and by all means sign his guest book so he'll know you were there. |
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