Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am going to feel very old saying this, but I graduated from college five years ago. I recently started taking my acting much more seriously and will be making my debut in several feature films next year. I would say Blaxpride was my first book, but Blaxpride: Dilation is what you may consider a second edition that is four times the length of the first one. Hopefully, the first of many that can eventually lead to a potential film or TV series. TaleFlick is what I hope can help me in that regard.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
haunts him as his misdeeds in Hong Kong have a domino effect on his hometown of Oakland, California. Despite wanting to live a healthy life, he is forced to defend his city as the masked crusader Blaxpride. The same detail was placed on the first Blaxpride, but this is a more detailed version with 90 day time period for when he first arrived back in the Bay Area. What inspired me to write this book was the fact that when I finished college, a lot of my old friends were still in school or complacent. I wanted to discuss topics of being an African American college graduate from the Bay Area with a target on his back when all he wants to do is be around family and work. In a fantasized situation, you get to witness all of that plus more.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing style is kind of crazy! (laughs) Some days I just go at the typing without any type of brainstorming and just let the brain do all the work on the fly. I also take public transportation a lot, so when I get some kind of downtime, I tend to open my phone and start creating more characters. The iPhone Notes app is beneficial to me. I really don’t sketch as much as I used to, but I do visualize mental images of what I expect each character to. I think just continuing to write, even when it’s not for a story, can create other ideas. And I think that’s what I want out of Blaxpride. Most of my previous readers will see that Blaxpride: Dilation is a prime example of this. Trust the process. (laughs)
What authors, or books have influenced you?
S.E. Hinton is probably one author that intrigued me. I loved the Outsiders, and that book will be referenced a lot throughout Blaxpride and the BlaxUniverse. I also like Christopher Paul Curtis, as “Bud, Not Buddy” was something I read a lot in grade school and I felt it was always an extremely underappreciated coming of age story about family. Those two stories influenced the Blaxpride series.
What are you working on now?
Well, I mentioned earlier that I am an actor. I am trying to take on more leadership roles to develop and enhance my acting skills. I’ve also undergone a considerable workout regimen to prepare in case one-day Blaxpride is designed for the screen and I would love to play Larry Lee one of these days. I mean, I think I know the character best. (laughs) But seriously, I just want to continue to develop Blaxpride novels and even short stories for other characters in the universe so that when the time is right – I am all in and ready to go.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I do a lot of interviews, promote on social media (Instagram/Facebook/Twitter) and hope for the best. I even reached out to a few connections I have on LinkedIn for support, and I am seeing how that’s going. I want genuine people who are interested in my product. At this point, it’s quality over quantity, and nobody wants faulty products.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just don’t give up. There are going to be people that love your ideas, and there’s going to be people that hate them. I always envision myself creating my own superhero universe for TV/film, but I decided to take the novel/book approach. I am working TaleFlick to get my work out there, but I am in no rush. When the time is right, Blaxpride and the BlaxFamily will be seen on the screen eventually.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It wasn’t advice, but it was a good quote from Kevin Hart. It was, “Everybody wants to be famous, but nobody wants to do the work. I live by that. You grind hard so you can play hard. At the end of the day, you put all the work in, and eventually, it’ll pay off. It could be in a year, it could be in 30 years. Eventually, your hard work will pay off.” I live by that because I know eventually Blaxpride is going to make it.
What are you reading now?
I don’t really read books, but a lot of articles from success authors or writers that have their work developed for TV/film. That’s one of the goals I have for myself at this moment.
What’s next for you as a writer?
As a writer, you would be lying to yourself if you didn’t want to create work that didn’t receive multiple accolades. So I won’t lie to myself. I wish that, and I want it bad, whether it’s with Blaxpride: Dilation or the next project, but I know for a fact that I want to create something that both my mom and dad will be able to visualize and say, “My son did that, and we are so proud of him.”
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?
See, if I’m going to be stranded on an island. I need some humor and some action. I would want the Miles Morales Spiderman book, a few Archie Comics, and Arrow: Vengeance. I must diversify depending on the mood I’m in that day. If not, I may end up yelling at Wilson. (laughs)
Author Websites and Profiles
David Bermudez Website
David Bermudez Amazon Profile
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