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| The staff for "Chit Chat" felt that I should be interviewed in celebration of my first novel, "It Seems To Hang On". At first I thought it was a bad idea, but after thinking it over, I thought, "what not?" The questions were bold, raw, honest and thought provoking. It was interesting to be on the other side of the table. |
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INTERVIEW
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| Girl Gone Blue : Wow, I can't believe I'm interviewing you, because of you I'm a part of "Chit Chit" and "GBMNews". Interviewing you, gives me a chance to learn more about you. How did you become a part of" GBMNews "and "Chit Chat?"
John: I spend my time between NYC and Charlotte, NC . I wasn't sure of the direction of my life, a lot had happened within the last few years. Ralph, the publisher and owner of GBMNews hit me up on "my space", only to let me know about GBMNews.
I visited the website, liked what it was all about. After a few months, I decided to telephone Ralph, thinking that I might be able to submit some of my poetry to GBMNews. While speaking to Ralph, we clicked, he mentioned that it was hard to find someone to cover "entertainment". I said that I would be interested, it took off from there.
Girl Gone Blue: What has been the reward of writing for and being associated with GBMNews?
John: Being able to watch it grow. I believe we have almost 1 million viewers per month. We are available not only, on line, in the United States but all over the world.
Even though, it's directed to the Gay black male audience, our fan base has reached all kinds of people from all walks of life. Our writers are not only black, but white, Latin, Asian, gay, straight, young, and not so young. (laughing)
Personally. I love the reaction that the readers have to my articles, good or bad. And trust me, they will let you know. If there's a reaction, then I've been successful. Ralph Emerson, our publisher and owner, has a brilliant mind, it's a honor to be a part of his vision.
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Omar: Are you currently in a relationship?
John: Yes, I am.
Omar: What does he think about your writing?
John: He's not as supportive as I'd like, but I'm sure he wants success for me.
Girl Gone Blue: I understand that you're also an author, you've written poetry and have a new novel, can you tell us about your work?
John: I've written four books of poetry. As you may know, poetry doesn't really sale that well. Even recording artist like Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, both have written books of poetry but either was on the best sellers list in the NY Times. I recall. Writing poetry is a labor of love, really.
My poetry reflects everyday life, no matter if you're straight or gay, we all experience, go through a lot of the same situations in life. My novel, "It Seems To Hang On", is a love story between two Black American men, during the late 70's to the 90's. If you've experienced love then you will enjoy this unique love story.
Omar: You describe your latest book as a love story, how do you feel about gay marriage?
John: I'm for gay marriage. I've been in love a few times, if it were possible during those relationships, to have gotten married, I would have. I would probably be like Elizabeth Taylor, I would have about 7 - 8 ex husbands by now.
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Girl Gone Blue: How old were you when you realized that you were gay?
John: I knew at the age of five, really. I didn't have a label or name for it. I didn't want to be known as a faggot. Growing up in the projects, you are exposed to a lot early in life. Faggots were guys, in my 5 year old mind, who wanted to be girls, who couldn't fight, who played jump robe with the girls. I didn't want to be a girl, didn't play jump-robe, and I could kick some ass if backed into a corner.
I had a choice to either fight or to go home and get a spanking, I choose to fight. After a while, word got around that I might be a faggot, but I could fight. None of the neighborhood straight guys wanted to get beat up by a faggot, so I didn't have to worry about getting into many fights.
Omar: What started you to writing and where do you get your inspiration?
John: Being a sensitive child, it was a way of expressing myself. As for my inspiration it comes in all forms, could be whatever I'm feeling or a conversation with a close friend or family member.
Omar: What do your friends think of your writing?
John: For the most part they're excited for me. Even though, I don't think any of them have read my novel yet.
Omar: What advice would you give an up and coming young gay man who would like to become a writer?
John: Stay true to yourself. You can only write about what you know. And if you are not encouraged by family/friends, press on anyway.
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Girl Gone Blue: Do you have any siblings?
John: Yes, I'm the oldest, I have a brother who's 3 years younger than I, and then I have a sister 16 years younger.
Girl Gone Blue: Wow 16 years?
John: Yes, my mother had me at 16 and my sister at 32. So I'm like a father to my sister as well has her big brother. My brother also respects me as his big brother, even though I'm only 3 years older.
Omar: What was it like growing up gay in Queens?
John: When we moved from Spanish Harlem, I tried to put my sexual attraction to men on the back burner. I was 14 years old, when we moved to Queens. I thought I would be able to denied my true else and live life as a straight male. But as I approached adulthood, I knew that I could only be happy being myself.
Girl Gone Blue: Living and being gay all of your life, would you want to have a sibling who is gay?
John: Good question………… I, how do I say this? The gay life can be a hard life, and being a person of color that can be double hard. Things are changing but not fast enough, I would love my sibling for whoever he/she is, but if I had a choice in the sexuality, I would have to say that it's easier being straight.
Omar: What misconceived notion would you like to clear up about the gay community to straight American?
John: In the gay community we have the same issues as our straight counterpoints. We want to get married, we want to have children, and we want the same things, we want equal rights. We are more than sex and party's.
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Omar: Great answer, by the way! Do you see yourself as an advocate?
John: No, not really but I do feel that I should be the best person that I can be. If I screw up it's a reflection on the gay and black community, also to my family. So I work on being a positive force, but I'm not perfect and wouldn't want to be.
Girl Gone Blue: On your wish list, if you could predict your future for the next 5 years, what would you like to happen?
John: I would love for my novel, to become a best seller. I would also love for it to be made into a movie. If I were to receive some financial success, I would love to have a place in NYC, in Charlotte, NC, in South Beach, Florida. And of course, I would like to catch up on my bills, help out my loved ones and donate time and money to different causes such as HIV/Aids, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's.
Girl Gone Blue: When you listen to music, who do you listen to?
John: That's a loaded question, it depends on the mood. My old time favorites are Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee Sharp, The Pointer Sisters, Barbra Streisand, Bette Milder, Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight,….Tramaine Hawkins, Thelma Houston, Freda Payne, all of the Supremes after Diana left, who sang with Mary Wilson. I can go from R&B to gospel, to easy listening to opera. I'm not big on country western.
Girl Gone Blue: Do you sleep in the nude?
John: (Laughing) I knew one day someone would ask me that question. Yes, I sleep in the nude. I'm nude most of the time, really, when I'm at home, unless I had guest/company over then I wear clothes. I'm a nudist really. Love being butt naked!
Girl Gone Blue: What would your friends and family be surprised to know or learn about you?
John: I'm really shy. I'm afraid of getting up in front of people. Afraid of reading anything aloud in front of people. Also extremely sensitive, so I've built a shell around myself to protect myself,
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this is sometimes confused with being hard or as someone said to me, I'm very New York City. (laugh)
Girl Gone Blue: Can you cook?
John: Yes, I'm a pretty good cook. I use to cook Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners when my grandmother was alive. She passed away a few years ago, after I haven't really cooked like that.
Girl Gone Blue: "Chit Chat" is still very new, it has published a few issues, what makes "Chit Chat" different than the other publications out there?
John: The focus is on the person being interviewed. We are remembering former artist that the American public may have forgotten. Many times people will ask, "Whatever happened to?" Hopefully we will reintroduce that celebrity to the public. We will also focus on up and coming new artist. There's a "Dear Omar", which is really a "Dear Abby" but from a gay, male point of view. Also Mae Kwan is responsible for our Food and Restaurant section. Alan Mercer, who has photographed many celebrities is now interviewing as well, he's a bonus to us. And then there's the brilliant Robert Jones, love his work. It's exciting. We are always interested in new writers, so anyone interested, send me an e-mail.
Omar: What's the first thing you would do, when your book becomes a bestseller?
John: Do you mean financially?
Omar: Yeah, the first thing you would want to purchase for yourself?
John: Depending on the amount, I would probably buy a ranch home.
Girl Gone Blue: How would someone get in touch with you?
John By my direct e-mail or Myspace and I'm also on facebook.
Girl Gone Blue: Well thank you for giving me the opportunity to interview you.
Omar: Yes, I enjoyed it too.
John: And thank you, both, for doing it so well.
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