Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, I am sixteen years old and I currently live in The Bahamas(where I am from). I am an uncle( basically one of my best achievements so far). Reading and writing are two of my favorite things to do and ever since I was extremely young, I have always loved doing that.
So far, I have written and published one book.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Mangoes in the Summertime was inspired by, unsurprisingly, my love for food. From there, I actually made a correlation between mangoes and joy. Everyone likes mangoes, because…they’re mangoes! So Mangoes in the Summertime stands for the happiness(mangoes) in our lives, during a given period of time(summertime).
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write everything from the back- meaning that all of my stories, poems, or whatever, are written in the reverse order. This helps me to flesh out the details of the story and see where I’ve been. That way, I know where I can start from…if that makes sense.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tracy Deonn(the author of Legendborn) is definitely one of those authors who have inspired me with their works. Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is also one of my major inspirations.
What are you working on now?
Time will tell…
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media for sure! Facebook, Instagram, etc…
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write something that will, at the very least, add a little bit of joy into the world.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do anything.
What are you reading now?
Right now, I am re-reading The Color Purple by Alice Walker and Wicked by Gregory Macguire.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I would love to branch out into different genres of writing(fantasy, drama, non-fiction, etc) while also learning new styles of writing. Furthermore, I plan on writing more about my culture and national origins, for I do feel like these things are essential to my development as a black, Bahamian author. As a writer, I also hope to do some sort of collaboration with my favorite authors.
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?
Oh wow! Ok, so I would bring…Mangoes in the Summertime, The Color Purple, Percy Jackson, and the Lightning Thief, Legendborn, and The Journey.
Author Websites and Profiles
John Poitier Website
John Poitier Amazon Profile
John Poitier’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account