Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the founder of the Hawkeye Vision Publishing imprint where our mission is to promote and encourage literacy by putting our world in words. I have written over 26 books of the urban fiction, nonfiction, and poetry genre. I have been writing for about 15+ years as a hobby and just recently decided to use my literature as an avenue to inspire others to learn more, increase their vocabulary, and help decrease the school drop out rate by increasing the literacy level in urban communities.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest work is Dear My People which is the third installment of the Voice of The Black Sheep series. The Voice of The Black Sheep series is a mental and spiritual journey of a broken man trying to find himself, understand his purpose, and fit in to the fast moving world around him. Dear My People is the Black Sheep comin to terms with himself, his reason for being, and the role he plays in society. This series was inspired by the many people who wander through life blinded and obsessed with keeping up with the Joneses. It is to inspire self love, help motivate readers to pursue their dreams, and wake society up to the real world around them.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My unusual writing habits include writing into the wee hours of the morning on a story then not bothering with that story the next day. I always write down any idea or story by hand before I ever consider typing it. Changing my story at least 5-7 times before I’m actually satisfied with it and binge writing. Binge writing is me writing for 2-3 days at a time uninterrupted.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m influenced more by the world more than I am books. I read many authors, too many to name them all, but I’m most influenced by the events that happen in society whether they be good or bad.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on Hawkeye Vision Production which will be an arm of Hawkeye Vision Publishing that will bring our works to the big screen.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I feel like Amazon has the big hand in promoting books right now being they are one of, if not, the biggest book sellers in the world. They reach a wide range of people across the world at any time of day. Their platform is known world wide and they allow authors like myself to control where our work is marketed and promoted or they can take control and push the work to audiences that they feel give you the best chance to make a sale.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
#1 – Believe in yourself and your work. Everybody’s not going to love your work, but everybody’s not going to hate it either. #2 -Remember that the buck starts and stops with the author. If you don’t push your work no one has a reason to push your work. And #3 – And I feel that this is the most important piece of advice that I can give to a new author, keep writing. The best way to get discover to have work out there. You write enough literature eventually someone will run across your material.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stop looking at the world and look in the mirror. I was once so caught up on what people would think and say that I let it affect my work. I wasn’t writing from the heart I was writing to society. It wasn’t fun anymore it became work. And the advice to stop looking at the world and look in the mirror took me back to the beginning. It made me remember what I loved about writing and the goals that I were trying to reach with my writing. It brought the fun back. It brought the authenticity back to my projects. It brought me back to the writing.
What are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading the book “Why? Because you are anointed!” by T.D Jakes and the script to my You Tube series “United By The Hustle”, which is also a book that I wrote.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My next move is the big screen. I’m working on a couple movies and You Tube series. I’m going to always write because that’s my first love, but I want to expand my ventures to bring my writings to life.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That’s a great question. The Bible, the most up to date history book, the most up to date Webster dictionary, and the biggest book of blank paper that I can find, so that I could continue to create.
Author Websites and Profiles
Alvin Hawkins Website
Alvin Hawkins Amazon Profile