Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my very first book. I’m a community activist for criminal justice reform and mental health awareness, as well as a former lawyer & convicted felon who just came home in May of 2019. I’m an artist/producer (stage name = Pastor Ayu) from Washington, DC & I make what I call “Gospel Trap” music about how my faith in Jesus Christ turned my life around & got me back on track. I talk truthfully about the streets & how God’s mercy can change anyone, particularly if He changed me, over hardcore trap beats. While I was still incarcerated, I led the Bible study for my unit (Southeast 3 in DC Jail) and I was in the Inmate Gospel Choir. I still do Bible study & ministry at DC Jail right now with the Phoenix Ministry at New Bethel Baptist Church. I also work with the National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens (the formerly incarcerated) throughout DC in getting people jobs & housing when they come home from prison.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called “Home Is What You Make It: Poems from Quarantine”. It was inspired by my time incarcerated and poems that I wrote while inside. I compared it to how I feel now being quarantined in the house due to the coronavirus. I thought that these poems would be inspiration during this time now more than ever because more and more people have the same cabin fever that I have.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing habits are that I write in spurts. I’m not a steady writer. If I get in the mood, I try to write down all my thoughts and organize them later.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m inspired by the Bible, Pastor T.D. Jakes, Pastor Mike Todd in Tulsa, and other people that are preaching the message of Jesus Christ.
What are you working on now?
I’m actually working on a musical album that I want to release on August 4, 2020, which happens to be my 39th Birthday. I’m writing down lyrics and organizing my thoughts around completing this project. I’ll work on my second book when I’m done with that.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I published my first book on Amazon.com and I get a lot of lessons and knowledge from studying the material on Kindlepreneur by Dave Chesson. He really has a lot of great information.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new authors is to take action. The worst thing you can do is to just keep putting it off. God tried to get me to write this book upon my release from jail in May of 2019. I didn’t officially get serious about writing until the following March and I finally published the book on April 19, 2020. So just do it (like Nike says).
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I ever heard comes from the Bible and more specifically Jesus Christ. He said the two greatest commandments are to love God with all my heart, mind and soul and to love my fellow humans like I love myself. I really strive to live by this.
What are you reading now?
I’m actually reading Dave Ramsey’s book “The Complete Guide to Money” because I want to know how to handle all this money that’s getting ready to come in due to my book sales. Just kidding (actually, I really hope that happens lol)
What’s next for you as a writer?
My next book will be more focused on telling my story through a narrative of some of my life stories and how I overcame them with God’s grace.
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?
I would probably bring The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Think and Grow Rich, almost any book by Dr. James Gills, and the Bible.
Author Websites and Profiles
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