Disilgold: What can you tell the Disilgold community about yourself that will explain why Disilgold has sought you for a perSOULnalized interview?
Jemir: Well I could say the legend of my wit, dazzling personality and ability to play “Disco Lady” {by Johnny Taylor} in its entirety on a slide whistle while doing a mean Robot precedes me … but the truth is being an author, publisher and comic book creator with a project featuring a hip hop twist on the crime- pulp genre was the “in” that put me here {laughs}.
Disilgold: What is your latest book about?
Jemir: 100 pages {drum roll/rim shot}. Yes ladies and germs, I’ll be here all week{laughs}. Joking aside, 5 Shots is a graphic novel collection featuring private eye Jay Nova and the cases she and her partner Randy Michaels book to keep bills paid. Jay, a tough-minded woman with a resume that includes car thief, stick up kid, gang affiliate among other things from her younger days to police officer before becoming a private eye is the centerpiece. What makes 5 Shots truly unique as far as private eye, or sleuth themed, fiction goes isn’t a black female lead such as Jay being the undeniable star in a print medium (graphic novels), setting (contemporary/modern day) and genres (mystery/thriller/urban lit) where strong, albeit “complicated”, self sufficient female characters aren’t as thoroughly represented as they could be. It isn’t even the paranormal twist, by way of Jay’s secret ability to read minds. What makes 5 Shots unique is the blend of the aforementioned themes and genre types mixed with the fact that the adventures center around the desperate paying to have Jay and Randy resolve time sensitive issues they cannot, or will not, go to the law or other channels with. So, in one story, you can get a crime procedural, wrapped in a character study, cloaked in a veil of nail biting action.
Disilgold: How long did it take you to complete your book?
Jemir: A little over eight months when you factor in writing the five stories, having each one drawn by a different artist, along with the time it took to letter and edit each one. Add in another month – give or take – to format and print the finished product and we’re talking a little over nine months. So I guess it was sort of like giving birth … minus labor pains and wondering what college will cost when it’s 18 {laughs}.
Disilgold: What were the happiest moments you have experienced while writing your latest book?
Jemir: The process of putting what were jumbled thoughts, half-mast ideas or scribbled notes into cohesive stories and collaborating with each artist to make them live was bliss on ice. I’m a creator, Man. I dig every part of the creative process. I also dig using terms like “bliss on ice” {laughs}.
Disilgold: Describe your writing style?
Jemir: Well I don’t really subscribe to a “style” as I try to do what I think best serves the over all story (without writing to the plot). But my output, I’ve noticed, tends to start right in the middle of the action – one example being a story in 5 Shots titled “Forward Fast” where on the first page Jay’s partner Randy is fighting for his life while protecting a client and has to immediately snatch up the client and get to Jay cross town in order to warn her their cover’s been blown- and gets the audience up to speed organically without sacrificing the pace of the story. I also tend to write very purposefully layered tales that are more than what they seem and never “just about” what’s on the surface.
Disilgold: How did you develop your writing style?
Jemir: I used to catch a lot of television shows and movies during the second act, the middle, when I was young. So having not seen the beginning I would use my imagination and what the story had given me to try and figure what was going on while following the story. As I grew and re watched some of these movies and TV repeats from their respective beginnings and all the way through I noticed much of what my imagination filled in fit what actually happened. There were also times (though I don’t like to admit this) when I wished I never “officially” filled in portions of certain tales because what my imagination provided- though in no way interfering with the story itself – worked better for me. So I kept these variables in mind while seeking and honing my creative, literary, voice. From there the idea of starting stories in the middle then filling in gaps as things went along – “piecing the puzzle together” may be more accurate – without handing the audience point a through point z, borderline doesn’t- respect- your- intelligence “watch for this” story points became, and continues to be, a point of aspiration. I couldn’t tell you how many times – usually during a show, especially with 5 Shots – someone would ask why a particular story had D,E, OR F happen when A,B,and C isn’t addressed. Then, without me telling them what to look for, they reread it and saw the answers they thought weren’t there, but likely missed at first glance, not only addressed but also covertly positioned to add dimension and depth. Again, I write layered stories that can be seen and enjoyed as one thing but rewards – and hopefully invites – multiple readings.
Disilgold: Do you have a favorite author of all time or someone who inspired you to achieve your goals as a writer?
Jemir: There’s no way I can bring myself to name “A” favorite author since I admire and respect so many. That said, Octavia Butler, Walter Mosley and Alan Moore have all, at various stages, sparked my desire to write by setting a bar for excellence I strive to meet daily.
Disilgold: Where do you see yourself as a writer ten years from now?
Jemir: Besides still growing within the craft and improving constantly? Being a writer that sets a bar for excellence that writers strive to meet daily {smiles}.
Disilgold: What marketing tips can you provide to new authors?
Jemir: When “marketing” think in terms of generating a buzz for your product and THAT will generate sales. I’ve seen people – myself included- spend big money (if not in terms of actual dollars than in relation to their available funds) trying to generate book sales by advertising with x amount of funds in “magazine a” (with its wide readership) or “website/pod cast b” promising this many hits or listeners. In truth they would have been better off saving their money - or spending half of what they initially spent – to do blogs, virtual book tours, establishing a web presence, utilizing local vending opportunities (where they may pay little to nothing for table space on the strength of being a local talent). The bottom line is nothing you do guarantees whether or not your book sells or sells well. But since not promoting it isn’t the smartest option, and spending money you may not be able to spare just to rent space (which is what an ad is since one million guaranteed readers doesn’t equal a sale to whatever percentage or that they’ll even glance at the ad … just that it’s in a publication or venue they read or listen to daily) isn’t advisable I’d say work most on finding web based and other economical ways to let people know about your product and why they might like it and let the sales stuff – which, again, no one can really control – take care of itself.
Disilgold: What other projects are you working on?
Jemir: This is where my innate ability to pile on work as other projects near completion comes into play. I am currently editing one science fiction and one horror anthology collection named Gonz Force and The Howler respectively. On the writing side of things I’m working on a fantasy-adventure script for a six issue, full color, comic book series called Vigilance. After that we have a four story, Jay Nova, graphic novel collection which will be followed by a full length Jay Nova mystery my editing team, as well as trusted artist and authors we’ve shown the initial script and drawn pages to, think will put Jay Nova on the literary and public map in a major way. Almost immediately after: a graphic novel I wrote ,which will be drawn by Winston Blakely - set in Harlem circa 1936 - called Midknight Phantom should appear. Think the sleek pulp-crime styling of a movie such as “The Maltese Falcon” if directed by Gordon Parks from a Chester Himes screenplay with a Paul Robeson arch type playing a fresh- from- the- grave masked “man of mystery” taking on the Mafia, corrupt cops and other figures plying their trade in the underworld and that gives you an idea of what to expect. There are other projects that I didn’t mention but, long story edited, I’ve been quite busy and wouldn’t have it any other way {smiles}.
Disilgold: What are your top ten favorite books right now?
Jemir: Wow, that’s a good one. Of “all time”? I’d go with, in no particular order: “Devil in a blue dress” by Walter Mosley, “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” by Alan Moore, “Wild Seed”, “Kindred” from the late-great Ms. Octavia Butler, “One for the Gipper {George Gipp, Knute Rockne, and Notre Dame}” by Kelland Patrick, “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Malcolm X and Alex Haley, “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, by Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Real Cool Killers” by Chester Himes, “The Jury” from Steve Martini, and “Killing Rain” by Barry Eisler. Many more but the question only asked for 10.
Disilgold:When do you write and for how long?
Jemir: If it’s a project or script with a particular deadline I can spend up to three or four hours a day staring at a computer screen and tickling the keyboard until the goal is met. If I’m working with a healthy bit of lead-time, or doing something for fun, I’ll dedicate two- two and a half hours a day to it not including weekends. I need those weekends to not sit and remind my feet they still serve a function {laughs}.
Disilgold: Do you have a favorite location for writing?
Jemir: My computer room, hands down. If it had a bath room, a kitchen and I wasn’t hampered by an occasional need for human contact I’d be sustained by a diet of intravenously administered proteins, Ray Parker, Junior songs and never leave {laughs}.
Disilgold: What method did you use to write or organize your book?
Jemir: It’s very rare to catch me without a notebook or notepad of some kind. I tend to jot down story, plot, or dialogue ideas as they hit me and mentally catalogue where I put it so when the time to sit at the computer and write out the stories begin I have a scrambled, scatter shot, blue print to build off of. The funny thing is, I consider it organized because I always know where I left the info, what it means (I tend to write in a code that only I understand. Short hand, abbreviations, substituting this word for that word and the like) and where it’s supposed to go. But since I’m usually working on more than one story – at various stages of development – and I may have scribbling for an upcoming Jay Nova story on pages one, three and seven but the notes for two future stories on pages two, four, six along with some sub plot ideas for another on page five … I can see how someone could see my notebook and think it’s a chaotic mess or freaky code outlining an impending alien invasion {laughs}. Regardless, that’s pretty much the method I used.
Disilgold:What three words best describe your writing style?
Jemir: Lively, layered, organic. Though that makes it sound like a celery flavored energy drink.
Disilgold: What other hobbies do you pursue when you aren't writing?
Jemir: Reading, dancing, laser tag, messing around on my skateboard and sneaking in a few games of football or basketball as time and desire allow.
Disilgold: Are there any hidden jewels or talents that you possess that many of your readers may not know?
Jemir: What, the “Disco Lady” slide whistle deal doesn’t count {laughs}.Well I won’t bring up the break dance thing because someone might ask me to demonstrate then I’ll comply and hurt myself … again {laughs}. But if being proficient in the art of human beat boxing off key or an uncanny ability to mangle any and every song on the Karaoke machine menu stands as “talents” … I’ll submit those {smiles}.
Disilgold: Where can folks buy your latest book?
Jemir: Essentially anywhere books are sold. Amazon.Com, Barnes & Noble.com, Books-A-Million.Com, or through special order at any bookstore if it isn’t on the shelf.
Disilgold: Where can folks meet you?
Jemir: I want to say near “Electric Avenue” but fears of misrepresenting the song’s intent and a feeling only one person would even get the reference will keep me from committing to that {laughs}. But anyone wanting to keep up with me can track me down on My Space, Good Reads, Face Book and Black Author’s Network where I keep my tens and tens of fans abreast of any upcoming appearances or book signings.
Disilgold: What have been some of your toughest obstacles as a writer?
Jemir: The standard bill paying, “real life”, stuff we learn to block out or circumnavigate as we pursue our dreams. But my biggest challenge as a writer, thus far, has been learning when to let a story go instead of strangling its integrity with visions of making it “perfect” and re-writing to where the original intent is lost. I’ve slowly learned that I’ll always see a way to make a story better after it’s done … I just have to trust my instincts and know when it’s finished. I’m getting there {smiles}.
Disilgold: This section of our interview requires brief responses. Are you ready to" Get PerSOULnal" Interview?
Jemir: Yes (that’s brief, right?{laughs}).
The "Get PerSOULnal" Interview
Disilgold: What time do you awake normally every morning?
Jemir: Around 7:30 AM.
Disilgold: What is your writing fuel in the morning?
Jemir: Breathing.
Disilgold: What early morning rituals have followed for many years?
Jemir: Stretching and push-ups upon waking.
Disilgold: What are your favorite foods to snack on while writing?
Jemir: Anything “Snack Cake”.
Disilgold: Do you watch television or listen to the radio when you're writing, and if so, what do you watch or listen too mostly?
Jemir: Hip-hop themed music but I’ll bump anything with a nice groove.
Disilgold: What is your favorite book of all time?
Jemir: “Devil in a Blue Dress”.
Disilgold: What is your favorite magazine of all time?
Jemir: Mad (look it up, People {laughs}).
Disilgold: Do you have an exercise regimen to suggest for busy writers?
Jemir: Sometimes just moving around helps get your mind right and the ideas flowing.
Disilgold: What is your everyday outfit?
Jemir: Baggy jeans, t-shirt, sneakers. Weather ,work conditions and social situation permitting.
Disilgold: What is your pet peeve?
Jemir: “Can’t do” attitudes.
Disilgold: If you could inspire a child, what would you say?
Jemir: Success isn’t measured by what you have but what you do.
Disilgold: What is your favorite motto?
Jemir: Buy 5 Shots {laughs}.
Disilgold: What is your favorite time to put your writing pen down and rest?
Jemir: When I’ve been at it so long I start hearing things that aren’t there. {laughs}.
Disilgold: Have you traveled anywhere besides your hometown and if so, where?
Jemir: The North and South East for different shows and appearances.
Disilgold: Where is your dream vacation?
Jemir: A toss up between Ghana and Rio.
Disilgold: What do you particularly like about the literary world today?
Jemir: That what the public sees is no longer strictly in the hands of major publishers, bookstores, and distributors.
Disilgold: If you could leave one word of advice to people in general, what would it be?
Jemir: Dreams don’t come true. They happen. So work hard and make it happen {after you buy 5 Shots. (laughs)}.
Reflections from Founder: Mr. Jemir is like your child prodigy all grown up, poised, classy nd ready to shine! He had an idea, executed it and no doubt, he's got the qualities to land a job with Disney or Nickleodeon as a producer because he has an eye for comics plots with his original urban comic book series.
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