Interview with Darrell King, author of Mo'Dirty Still Stuntin'

Two days back I posted a book review of Mo'Dirty Still Stuntin' by Darrell King. This book is pegged as a street-lit. Do check it out by clicking on the title. Today I take to opportunity to present an interview with the author.

Interview With Darrell King

Q 1.) When and why did you begin writing?

A) I've been writing ever since i've been able to read. I'd say I seriously
started writing at about eight years old. I've always had a very active
imagination, which seem to take flight whenever i put pen to paper . Writing
gave mean outlet for my imagination to soar.

Q 2.) When did you first consider yourself a writer?

A) I'd say as early as six when I first began penning my very own comic
books. I'd draw crude looking panels,with illustrations of my favorite
superheroes and fill in the dialogue in word balloons above their
heads. Though this early creative past time gave me hours of fun it often
landed me into hot water with my great grandparents who did'nt take kindly
to having their living room walls resemble the funny pages of the Sunday
paper.

Q 3.) What inspired you to write your first book?

A) My first published work a street lit novel entitled "Mackdaddy:Legacy of
a gangsta"(*Publisheamerica, 2004), was inspired by 1988's motion picture
"Colors" starring Robert Duvall, and Sean Penn as well as N.W.A.'s hit
single "Boyz In The Hood". The Gang culture of South Central,Los Angeles
was virtually unknown to east coast of the United States back then. That
one movie as well as The controversial lyrics of Compton's infamous
gangsta rap troupe (N.W.A.) came on the scene and introduced the entire
country to the cold harsh reality of life in the hood, and inspired me to
pen my first tale of ghetto drama.
Q 4.) What was the hardest part of writing your book?

A) I'd have to say dealing with the editing and proofreading part which is
altogether necessary, but man is it ever tedious and irritating, I hate
that part, it's the worst.

Q 5.) What do you see as the influences on your writing, outside, inside, whatever?

A) I'll always give mad props to hip hop in general and gangsta rap in
particular, as the major influences on my literary work. Movies such
"Scarface","Goodfellas", and "New Jack City" also influenced my writing
style with their darkly sinister themes.

Q 6.) Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

A) I have many favorites but if I had to choose from those among my very
own genre of writing it would have to be a toss up between past and
present,the late, great,Donald Goines and K'Wan Foye, simply known to fans
of street lit affectionately as 'K'Wan. Donald Goines is the pioneer of the
genre who captivated his readers with stories so gritty, hardcore and
realistically compelling that in it catapulted him to the status as the #1
bestselling Black author of any genre in the world! (a title he still holds
posthumously today) and prompted Hollywood to begin producing the wildly
popular Blaxploitation films of the early 1970's. I loved reading his works
and I still from time to time pick up one of his old novels from off of my
shelf. K'Wan on the other hand brings the heat with each and every novel he
pens.Everything from his debut work "Gangsta", to his current street
sensation "Gutter" is fiyah! His characters are unforgettable, the story
lines flawlessly raw and unforgiving. He is arguably one of the very best
in the industry right now.

Q 7.) Can you share a little of your current work with us and how do you envisage it in future?

A) "Mo'Dirty" is pretty much a second helping of my novel "Dirty
South" (Triple Crown Publications,2005).It chronicles the rise of Whiskey
Battle,a ruthless young enforcer for Peola, Georgia's Bad Boyz II
syndicate .He is also the illigimate son of Marion "Snookey" Lake,drug lord
of New Orleans who wreaked havoc throughout the pages of Dirty
South. Whiskey has a drama filled life which becomes all the more
complicated after he's asked to take out the chief of police by his
underworld superiors. I've received rave reviews of both street lit works
and I will continue with several of the best loved charaters of each novel
in future titles.

Q 8.) What book(s) are you reading now?

A) Well I just finished "Dreams from my father" from President elect Barack
Obama,which was an excellant read! Very insightful and reflective. And now
I'm reading "Eclipse" by Stephenie Meyer.

Q 9.) Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

A) Yes.There is a local street lit novelist and indie film maker, James
Tanner from right here in Washington, DC whose debut "Diary of a thug" was
quite interesting. Filled with violent men and lustful, conniving women it
has all the elements a street lit novel needs to keep one's interest. A fun
read for any urban lit fan. And then there's Stephenie Meyer. I came across
her novel "Twilight" one day while fishing around for an umbrella in my
daughter's closet. I thumbed through it and it got my attention right
away, ever since i'm a horror buff and partial to werewolves and
vampires.After the first two chapters I was hooked! I've read all four
vampire novels of Meyer's Twilight series. "Breaking Dawn" was so good that
I finished it in one weekend! Hell, I might even visit the town of Forks, WA
my damn self.

Q 10.) Do you have anything that you want to say to your readers?

A) I'd like to say that i'm so very blessed to have the fans that I have
who have supported me from day one with Mackdaddy:Legacy of a gangsta up
until now. You guys are the absolute best and without you, I would not have
had the privilege to be where I am today. So it is both a joy and an honor
to write the type of gritty, treetwise stories that you love so much and
with you support and the higher self's guidance I shall continue to give
the people what they want! Love, Peace and Hair grease! YOUU KNOWWW!


Darrell King

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks Darrell, for the answers!