Interview With Author Alvin Hayes
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m retired and discovered late in life I enjoyed writing stories. I started in 2015 sending emails to my family with my thoughts on politics and race. From there I decided to branch out and challenge myself to author a story that merged: race, politics and history. This turned into the African American Historical Fiction whileBlack Series.
The first book in the series “If Cotton Could Talk” begins pre civil war on a cotton plantation in Mississippi. It’s not a book about slavery. Its about the people who were enslaved and the relationships they formed with each other as they prepared for freedom.
The second book, “If The Elders Call” highlights the next generation and what happened after the Compromise of 1877 when the President agreed to remove the troops from the South to get elected. This generation fought back against the violence and with the help of a gang of outlaws survived the Ku Klux Klan by relocating to New Orleans.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Third book in the whileBlack series, “The Black Lady With Blue Eyes” will be published in February. I authored this book to focus on the lives of African Americans in 1900s’ and why six million left the South.
This book begins in 1905 under the umbrella of legal segregation where laws were written to tell African Americans where they could live, eat, go to school, and walk. Basically no rights a white person had to honor. This generation led by the youngest daughter wanted to build a business. But first she had to find a white ally and force a white supremist to resign his position in disgrace. When her cousin is murdered while in jail, her family vows to revenge the killing no matter the risk. Helping her was the Black Lady With Blues Eyes who had a special gift.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I would describe my writing style as “by-the-seat-of-your-pants” I’ll research the period and events, place my fictional family in the middle and begin to write. I don’t use outlines before writing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Walter Mosley Ta-Nehisi Coates
What are you working on now?
Preparing to launch The Black Lady With Blue Eyes in February
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Instagram and word of mouth. I always have a card with my website to give out when I meet someone new and they ask what do you do? I’m not using all the resources available to market a book
Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s hard work for little return at the beginning so you better love to write.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Everybody is not going to like your book
What’s next for you as a writer?
Continue to write stories that focus on living in America while-black.
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