| "The
Interview with Marlon LaSean Sanders"
THE
ROCK: Who is Marlon LaSean Sanders,
tell us something about you?
Sanders: I’m a native Memphian, and
a bachelor. I attended Overton High School, then later went on to attend
Shelby State, and later went back to school for graphic design. I’m
an amateur gourmet cook who loves Mexican cuisine. I love jazz, particularly
all of Miles Davis and John Coltrane’s music. After finishing
my first novel last year in December, I launched an imprint, Blue Note
Press, and self-published, an experience that has prepared me for publishing
other authors in the very near future.
THE
ROCK: Where are you from, and currently residing?
Sanders: I’m currently residing in
my home town of Memphis, Tennessee. It’s a really great city with
a lot of hidden gems, and the cost of living is unbelievably affordable,
and a lot of my immediate family lives here as well.
THE
ROCK: Are there any other writers in the family?
Sanders: Although I have other family members
with artistic talents, such as painting, singing and theatre, I’m
the only one who ventured into writing.
THE
ROCK: When did you start writing?
Sanders: Even as far back as high school,
it was always something I had a knack for, but back then, I didn’t
nurture my talent for writing. About five years ago, when I was a graphic
designer for The Kroger Corporation, I began writing again as a hobby,
and as time passed, l started taking it seriously. At first, my goal
was to write screenplays, which later turned into full length novels.
I preferred the full-length novel instead of the screenplay because
you can do so much more with it.
THE
ROCK: What prepared you to become an author?
Sanders: After I decided I wanted to pursue
a career in writing, I spent about five years learning how to write.
I read everything I could get my hands on, and learned the mechanics
of writing. I read a lot of industry insider books about publishing,
joined chat groups to network with other authors, and some who were
already published, which is how I learned a lot of first-hand knowledge.
Their experiences helped me to avoid some of the pitfalls of the publishing
industry.
THE
ROCK: What inspired you to become a writer?
Sanders: Writing gave me the freedom to
explore my creative side, and it opened me up to a talent I’d
never considered using, and a world I’d never explored. Once I
rediscovered my knack for it, I developed a passion for writing. Now,
I can’t see myself doing anything else.
THE
ROCK: What inspired you to write your book?
Sanders: The novel initially began in multiple
POVs. It didn’t even have a working title at the time. As I began
developing the story, the wife of one of the characters had the strongest
voice of all. It wasn’t until last year, when Jennifer Wilbanks
was in the news, that I knew where my novel was going. She was the runaway
bride who committed to a marriage, and at the last minute, changed her
mind, then convinced everyone she’d been kidnapped to get out
of her own wedding. After hearing that story, I made it the premise
of my novel, only I took it a step further by letting the main character,
Freedom Dandridge, go through with the marriage, then change her mind,
which is a lot harder to back out of, and the reader spends the entire
story trying to find out how she deals with this ironic conflict.
THE
ROCK: Tell us about your newest creation. What is the
premise?
Sanders: My sophomore novel is entitled
“The Professional.” It’s about Suki Jamison, an ex-Marine
Corps sniper turned underworld assassin, who’s hired by her ex-lover,
Drake Evans, to do a hit on a government witness at the center of a
political scandal. But the job isn’t as easy as she anticipated.
Throughout her obstacles, she comes to terms with her lingering feelings
for Drake, which means confronting her past once and for all. It’s
a fast-paced thriller that grabs you from the very beginning, and won’t
let go.
THE
ROCK: Any publishing contracts in the working?
Sanders: My book was published in September
2006, and I haven’t been approached by any of the major publishing
houses, as of yet, but I’m confident it will happen. In the meantime,
I’ll continue to support my writing career by promoting my own
novels.
THE
ROCK: Have you ever self-published? Why or why not?
Sanders: I’m currently a self-published
author. For me, self-publishing was crucial because of the timelines
of the book. I write about current issues, so I didn’t want to
wait until I’d landed an agent and got a book deal for the novel
to become published. Self-publishing can be a challenge, but at the
same time, it shows traditional publishers you’re a self-starter.
THE
ROCK: What are "traditional publishers" looking
for?
Sanders: I’ve noticed that the book
industry has trends, and more traditional publishers are catering to
Urban Lit readers because it’s very popular. In spite of the criticisms,
I think it’s a genre that’s here to stay. “Tell All”
books are becoming more popular, such as “Video Vixen,”
and I believe we’ll start seeing more of those as well.
THE
ROCK: If you were a publisher, what would be your niche?
Why?
Sanders: I believe it’s good to stay
current with market demands, so what I’d do is look for authors
who could write in more than one genre. By doing this, they can expose
their readers to new genres, and other authors signed to my publishing
house.
THE
ROCK: For an author, is having a publishing contract with
a "traditional publisher" important professionally? Why?
Sanders: I think so, because in many ways,
a contract is a validation of all the hard work you put in, whether
it’s submitting manuscripts, or self-publishing. It’s a
goal that we all strive for as authors, and it helps you to reach a
larger audience of readers.
THE
ROCK: What are some of your professional and personal
achievements?
Sanders: Earning a degree in graphic design
was a milestone in my life, but it pales in comparison to becoming a
published author and a self-employed business owner.
THE
ROCK: Who are some of your favorite authors?
Sanders:
Well, naturally Zora Neal Hurston, who’s influenced so many AA
authors, as well as Toni Morrison. I also like Zadie Smith, Colin Channer,
Bebe Moore Campbell, Lolita Files, Erica Simone Turnipseed, even John
Grisham’s writing.
THE
ROCK: Where do you want to be in 5 years?
Sanders: One of my long-term goals is to
publish a novel each year, so I’ll be on my fifth novel with a
major publishing house, and I’ll continue to build my imprint,
Blue Note Press, by launching the careers of other aspiring authors.
THE
ROCK: Well done, Mr. Sanders.
Where can readers find you?
Sanders: My official website is www.marlonlaseansanders.com.
There, you can find an excerpt of “The Other Man,” as well
as an excerpt of my upcoming novel, “The Professional,”
tour dates, and other news about me. You can also email me at marlon@marlonlaseansanders.com.
THE
ROCK: Thank
you very much, Mr. Sanders.
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