Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Carey Westbrook, the star of many feature films and primetime TV shows, including Worst Bakers in America, Baggage, and I’ve served as a script consultant for the Academy Award nominated producers of Blue Valentine and Men of Honor starring Robert DeNiro. My comics have been featured in newspapers all over the world and I am currently the director of The L.A. Neo Noir Novel, Film, and Script Festival, and The Pugwooly Pet Fable Film Festival in Hollywood, California.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The spirit of the Lord woke me up in the midnight hour. I know it was the spirit of the Lord because up until that time I had secretly been an atheist, but once the voice was heard, there was certainly no mistaking it. I heard it say, “show me the Black cartoon animals.” I replied, “Lord, there are too many to name, but the most famous, I suspect is the donkey from Shrek.” I went back to sleep, but the voice woke me up again. “Show me the Black cartoon animals.” I shouted back to voice, “Google it. I already pointed you in the right direction with the Eddie Murphy’s donkey in Shrek.” The voice replied, “That’s not a Black cartoon animal. That’s a White cartoon animal created by White people, with a Black man’s voice…show me the Black cartoon animal.” There are no Black cartoon animals. Snoopy, Mickey Mouse, Tom and Jerry…since the beginning comic strips in the 1920’s until today, there is no Black cartoon / comic strip animal of any notoriety created by a Black person or ANY person of color…”There are no Black cartoon animals, Lord.” I heard the voice one last time say, “Show me the Black cartoon animals.” That night, Pugwooly was born…
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write until I literally pass out and fall asleep on the keyboard. I write the worst I can write until I’m all written out and go back and fix it sometimes or sometimes just leave it terrible as is. I write and keep writing no matter how bad it may be until I get to a good idea. I write when everyone else is asleep.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The writers I would like to think influenced me the most is an unknown self syndicated Black comic strip creator named Greg Harris. I met him once and he shared insight on how to get started in the business of self syndication and comic strip work. A comic strip creator you may have heard of that influenced me most I suspect is J.T. Chick and one of his tract books entitled WASSUP? comes to mind. Agree or disagree with his religious proselytizing? That’s not the point. The point is this man’s little books are every friggin’ where you turn in the streets. This succinct cool little stories threatening you with hellfire and brimstone in a very graphic visceral way, in a cool little 24 page book! Little mini horror ghost books that were made you feel guilty or scared or angry and touched you in a very personal way. There must be hundreds of these little books floating around. BRILLIANT.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’ve just finished an erotic comic book entitled L.A. Neo Noir Erotica Volume I: Hollywood Boulevard Metro Eros, which is about a bus driver who finds an old haunted radio that makes all the women on Hollywood Boulevard he meets want to have sex with him. It’s a fantasy erotic horror thing in a Twilight Zone meets Deep Throat kind of way. You also get to see a lot of cool Hollywood landmarks and erotic illustrations that I’m sure will drive you wild, like our bus driver hero, who learns with this great power also comes great responsibility and possibly death.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have produced each of my books as short films and they will be screened at my festivals. Every writer who submits writing to my festival will receive a short film based on their writing and the best submissions will be screened at my festivals. NO OTHER FESTIVALS IN THE WORLD DO THAT…except my festivals, and we do it on Hollywood Boulevard and industry big wigs come out and support these short films and these writers and MANY people have gotten work and live action film financing for their scripts because of my festivals, now in their sixth year. So my method is to make like minded writers as successful as I am; thereby, making them have to enjoy what I enjoy to prosper as I have prospered and celebrate what I celebrate.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
You should submit something to my festivals!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Either you’re in it or you’re in the way – AZ Word to my homies on the street…and word to these tight ass lyrics and dope beats – Dr. Dre. Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It – Ice Cube If I could start again, a million miles away, I would keep myself…I would find a way – Johnny Cash.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading the Robert Crumb Anthology and two books by Doug The Pug.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m working on putting together a Pugwooly TV show.
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?
Confessions of an Economic Hitman, The Little Prince, Lord of the Flies, Of Human Bondage.
Author Websites and Profiles
Carey Westbrook Website