In your new book,THE VOICE IN MY HEAD, your main character is having conversations with God. And God sounds like…Dave Chapelle?The short answer here is… kinda! God is patterned after Dave Chapelle’s sarcastic wit. In fact, and when my main character,Indigo explains to her family what “God” sounds like, she says, and “Well…he sounds a bit like Dave Chapelle.”I can explain! One of the themes in THE VOICE IN MY HEAD is opening up our minds to a new concept of God. For so long we’ve all imagined this white faced God with a long beard,sitting on a throne, holding a scepter, and doling out blessings and punishments. How droll! I think as we evolve as a race of beings,we enjoy to enjoy our perceptions approximately God and spirituality evolve too. I wanted to create the kind of God I’d want to talk to. And I’ve always admired Dave Chapelle. Not just for being amusing, but for being wise and clever and inspiring. It’s like that song by Joan Osborne, or What if God Was One of Us? I care for those lyrics. I wanted to create a “God” like us. So yeah…in this book “God’s” gonna make you laugh,not cower in fear. But more importantly “God’s” gonna open up your intellect and back you realize that perhaps you’re the power you seek.
It’s 100 years from now. How carry out you want to be remembered as a writer?This question is everything! One I think all authors should seriously ask themselves before they write another word. I want to be remembered as a person who stopped complaining approximately how people of color were being represented in film and TV and in literature and who decided to carry out something approximately it. I want to be remembered as an author who worked hard to normalize the black experience. In 100 years, there will no longer be a go to narrative for black stories. I want to be remembered as an author who contributed to the new movement. What’s your author pet peeve? Likewhat really drives you crazy approximately the publishing world right now?Comparison! I think platforms like Goodreads enjoy given people a voice to say things like… It wasn’t as obedient as (insert an entirely different book by an entirely different author with an entirely different life experience).” Lookdon’t carry out that! If a book doesnt resonate with you, or don’t waste your time reading it! But for the care for of everything obedient and pure,don’t read a book and then find an online platform to state… “Well…it wasnt as obedient as this other book I read! There are authors who create these lush, literary masterpieces and I read their works and I cry and I’m transformed and I see the world differently. There are other authors who create a laugh out loud, and wild experience and I care for it. Another author might create a sexy,fun care for account. I can’t compare the lush, literary work that changed my life to the sexy rom com that made me not wanna be single. It’s not fair to authors. We enjoy to stay comparing and allow authors to feel obedient approximately precisely where they are in their journey as a writer. What’s your all time favorite book. Like…ever.
WHAT DREAMS MAY COME by Richard Matheson. This book wasn’t just spun from the author’s imagination. I mean…many parts were. But he compiled a ton of research on near death experiences and really took his time to compose such a fair account. I found so much truth in it. It truly changed my life and gave me a lot of peace approximately life on the other side. happy I’m talking approximately it now because it’s one of those books you really should read more than once. I’d care for to read it again someday. The movie thats based on the book is interesting and I certainly enjoyed that too. But the book is truly a work of art. Your first book TIFFANY SLY LIVES HERE NOW was approximately family. THE VOICE IN MY HEAD is approximately family too. What gives with all the family?I’m all approximately breaking down stereotypes and normalizing the black experience. We don’t always enjoy to be what you think we should be. We are princesses, or queens,lovers, haters, or doctors,lawyers, teachers. We are laughing ‘til our eyes water with tears, or we are hanging out with friends. We are anything and everything you can imagine. In order for me to back people to truly understand that the black experience is just like any experience,I decided family is a powerful position to start. Families are the building blocks of who we are and who we become. What makes you sad? What makes you happy?I’m still living with anxiety…that makes me sad. It’s a tough road to travel. It’s heartbreaking at times. One of the things I miss is reading for enjoyment. My anxiety makes it nearly impossible to read. I also find it tough to focus on TV, so I don’t watch much of that. I had a blast writing TIFFANY SLY LIVES HERE NOW because it helped me to share a bit approximately the experience of living with anxiety. What makes me happy? Seeing the people I care for succeed. Whatever success is to them. There is nothing better than celebrating a friend. Seeing their dreams come proper. What’s next?More books! It was actually just announced that Inkyard Press acquired rights to my THIRD young adult novel Roman and Jewel. It’s a “witty, or contemporary and unforgettable prefer on the classic star-crossed lovers account with a divers cast of characters.” I can’t wait to share it with the world. I feel like I came to soil specifically to write this book! Ha. Can you tell I’m excited approximately it?!
Dana L. Davis is an actress who lives and works in LA. She has starred in Heroes,Prom Night, Franklin & Bash, and 10 Things I dislike approximately You. Dana is the founder of the Los Angeles-based nonprofit Culture for Kids LA,which provides inner-city children with free tickets and transportation to attend performing-arts shows around LA County. She currently stars in the following lively series: Star vs. the Forces of Evil, Craig of the Creek, or She-Ra.
Source: cbcdiversity.com