Bio:
Keith Kareem Williams is the author of 9 books and currently working on his 10th.
He still resides in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York where he delicately
balances his time between his responsibilities as a single father as well as
the challenges of being a full-time author.
“In interviews, one of the most
difficult questions I’ve been asked is, ‘What genre are your novels?’ because
honestly, I never write with any particular style in mind. I enjoy blending
style and mashing different genres together in interesting ways. Basically, I
pen whatever is in my heart and soul. However, if I had to describe my style I
would use musical terms and say that I write Urban, Hip-Hop, fiction with the
rhythm of Reggae that crashed into Heavy Metal and then began to bleed Neo
Soul.”
One of the things I’m most proud of
is how my children look at me with pride because I’m accomplishing my goals and
doing the things I set out to do with my career. They recognize and respect my
passion. I write constantly and I already have the titles& plots lined up
for my next 54 novels. This is what I do and I’m just trying to let the rest of
the world know this. My ambition is to become as legendary as some of the
writers I admire. I believe that a GOOD writer pulls you into their story. A
GREAT writer makes the world around fall away as you read. The LEGENDARY
writers tell stories that become a part of you and linger long after you’ve
read the last line of the last chapter. It was once said that, the pen is
mightier than the sword. I say to my fellow AUTHORS: Let’s advance our craft
until it’s mightier than then guns, grenades, bullets & nuclear bombs. If
not, then put your pen down and fall back. Those of us who are serious about
this will run you over as if we were riding in tanks.
I asked Keith some questions and
here is what he has shared:
When did you first consider yourself
a writer? I believe I first started to
feel like a writer when I started making up my own stories as a kid and writing
them down. I couldn’t have been more than five or six years old. My mother
taught me how to read at age three.
What inspired you to write your
first book? The environment I grew up in
inspired the storyline of my fist book, but a fiction workshop I took in my 2nd
semester in college is the reason why I wrote “Water Flows Under Doors.” After
sitting quietly in class, without saying a word in the first few weeks as I
listened to my classmates share their writing, I realized that I would have to
write something to get a decent grade. I went home one afternoon after school
and wrote for twelve hours straight. (From 2:30pm in the afternoon to 2:30am)
The next day in class I read what would eventually become the first two
chapters of my first book and the class, including the professor, encouraged me
to turn it into a full-length novel.
What books have most influenced your
life most? It would be impossible for me
to credit just one book because I’ve been influenced by almost everything I’ve
read. That is probably why I’m able to write in any genre and also mix them
when the mood takes me. I will say that ‘Their Eyes Were Watching god” by Zora
Neale Hurston influenced and inspired me to write a story that details “where
I’m from” if you will. Ralph Ellison’s ‘Invisible Man” influenced my use of
metaphors in my stories.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work? I really can’t say that I have a favorite author. My favorites change from book to book. I just enjoy creative, unique, well-written literature.
Did you learn anything form writing
your book and what was it? I learned
that I have a unique view of the world and a creative way to express that. I
was tempted to write a typical story, the type that was commonplace and popular
but I took a change and wrote exactly what I wanted to, in the way I wanted to
do it. I learned the readers are always thirsty and hungry for a fresh voice.
The feedback from those reads about my first book let me know that I AM that.
Do you have any advice for other
writers? Take the craft of writing
seriously. Being able to read and write does not necessarily qualify you as a
great, or even decent writer. There’s are and craftsmanship involved and
neither should be taken lightly. (Just because I can hit a jump-shop on the
basketball court does not mean I belong in the NBA. Years of grueling work and
sacrifice went into those athletes’ careers.) Writing is no different. Learn
your craft. Also, write every day, even if it’s just a page or two. Waiting for
inspiration is a dangerous game. Pick up your pen and the inspiration will
come. Your creativity is just like any other muscle in your body. The more you
use it is the stronger it becomes.
Do you have anything specific that
you want to say to your readers? To
the readers that already follow me work, I’d like to thank them for the
continued support. I would love for them to SHARE me with their reader friends
more often though. They tend to try to keep me to themselves. For the readers
who haven’t read any of my books yet, I’d like to tell them that they should.
Most of the people who pick up my catalog, I put the same energy and effort
into everything. I write and I always deliver something fresh for you to
enjoy.
What do you enjoy most about
connecting with your readers? I
really enjoy the interaction. I don’t have “fans” because I consider those
folks friends. We don’t just discuss books. Often, we discuss life in general.
I think that’s why they try to keep me to themselves sometimes. Who in the
world is eager to share their friends?
Sample From, Tourniquet
Safe Inside Insanity
Chapter 9
“I thought you were going home to satay with your sisters?” Gavin asked, shocked to find Angela back at his place, curled up like a kitten on the futon.
He’d just got home from work so tired that he almost thought it might be a dream. When she humped up, rushed to him at the door and hugged him, he knew it was real.
“I need to be here with your tonight,” she told him and squeezed him so tightly that she nearly smothered him.
“You know you can be here anytime you want. I’ll always be here for you,” he reassured her.
For the rest of the night, they lay in the bed together but didn’t exchanged words. The voices inside Gavin’s head had been silenced as her head lay on his chest and Angela didn’t have to worry about unwanted hands or eyes on her body. She was sage and he was sane, at least for the moment. Sleep didn’t come easily for either one of them. They both drifted in and out of dreamland in shifts, almost ask if they instinctively watched over one another. At any moment, Angela expected the police to knock on the door looking to put her in handcuffs for assaulting her stepfather and Gavin waited for his ghosts to begin to torment him as they usually did whenever it was quiet.
Twitter: @reemafterdark
Blog: www.thegullygodchronicles.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/keithkareemwilliam
Instagram: @reemafterdark
Water Flows Under Doors 2004
Open Spaces
2010Sometimes Brooklyn, Mostly Mars 2011
Glass Goddesses, Concrete Walls 2012
War Angel 2013
War Angel II: Where Angels Fear To Tread 2014
Tourniquet 2014
The Prerequisites of Perdition:
Written for Crossroads – An Anthology
Galerie Erotique: Written for Eros
369 Volume IIIBring Me Back: Written for Untapped – Collection of Erotic Firsts
Thank you for stopping by. I hope your enjoyed learning about this talented author as much as I did. Make sure to connect with Keith and pick up your next great read.
Be Blessed
Be Blessed
Comments
Post a Comment