Many say they want to be an author but few follow through and become one. To be an author at a young age is an impressive feat and Baltimore native, Alex ‘Hood’ Fuller was one of the ones who accomplished it. An author and a member of New Hope Baptist Church of Christ in Baltimore, Fuller uses his gifts to enlighten and inspire the congregation with his musical talents, thought-provoking books, and stage plays.
Using his indisputable talent and flair for writing, Fuller fused his creativity, passion, Christian values, and empathy for people’s daunting real-life experiences to create a trilogy of books. His books tap into biblically-based superheroes as they struggle with spiritual elements. You will be captivated by the engaging way he tells stories.
Without further ado, I introduce you to Alex ‘Hood’ Fuller, an author and a playwright who has found his calling for writing and is sharing it with the world. Here is our conversation.
You’re a 25-year-old author who has written 3 books. Congratulations! What made you want to be an author, how old were you when you wrote your first book, and what are your books about?
I’ve always had a fascination with telling and listening to stories. I’ve also always been a talker. Ever since I was younger, I have enjoyed the look on people’s faces when I tell a story that they find captivating. It naturally translated over time to more imaginative pursuits which led to me wanting to write and craft my own narratives.
I was eighteen when I completed my first work titled, Mark of the Demon. My books chronicle the adventures of biblically-based superheroes as they struggle against personified spiritual elements. Sometimes, they are more down-to-earth stories, dealing with spirituality and religion among the job and peers, and society. Other times the story takes a more fantastical turn as individuals use their powers to aid in the ever-expanding war between angels and demons.
In your book, Plus Size, you tell the story of an African American woman who has to deal with overcoming cruel labels and her self-doubt to release the hero inside. What inspired that story? And what lessons do you hope people will learn from reading it?
My dating life has consisted almost exclusively of full-figured women. This has given me ample opportunity to hear and listen to the everyday issues that they face. Listening to the testimony of unfair treatment, ridicule, and bullying has stuck with me for years, especially as someone who has experienced a fair amount of bullying myself. The women I have dated, and even the ones I have just remained friends with are women of great intelligence, ambition, and talent. And I have seen firsthand how instinctive it is for people to not even consider these dimensions of people once they see the physical. Creating a character with so much power inside who has to find a way to put it to use felt like a natural progression from what I see around me every day, just on a more exaggerated level.
I hope that readers will come to see that their physical appearance does not have to define them and that insecurities are more commonplace than they may think.
You have a Christian upbringing, how has that had an impact on your writing?
My faith is fifty percent of the inspiration. The other inspiration comes from Marvel, DC, Image, and other superhero conduits. Melding the two is my ultimate goal, but my faith always takes precedence. Searching for new and unique ways to speak on elements of the bible, the characters, the concepts, and the messages are the reason I tell the stories that I tell. I feel like I am walking in my purpose when and only when I am doing right by my faith.
In your epic fantasy books, you bring up “real issues” like self-esteem, depression, suicide, spiritual integrity, and self-empowerment, what made you want to talk about such heavy topics?
I believe that the only way to make a story worth telling is to approach it from a genuine place. I discuss these topics because they are the topics that I relate to. I have been depressed. I am constantly concerned about my spiritual integrity, hoping that I am doing right. I am always fighting against my low self-esteem so that I can be more comfortable in my skin. I believe this gives the stories a personal touch that research and studying can’t provide. It is the same reason why the characters are the ethnicity that they are, that the stories take place where they do, and they say what they say. It is all a reflection of my own life. Some would say that relying on your own view gives a narrow perspective, and that is a fair statement. I would rebuttal with the fact that it ensures the story is real, and I don’t think there is any substitute for authenticity.
You’ve been busy, you have also written 3 Christian plays, tell us a little about each one of those, and why it was important to tell those stories?
I made a play based on the first superhero I created called, Devil Chaser. And then I made one about the birth of Jesus and one about His resurrection. Each of them focused on a fictional spiritual behind-the-scenes view of the events. For example, the play entitled, Unto Us about the birth of Jesus mainly focused on the angels as they shared their opinions about the human race and how much stock they put in Jesus, and whether they even deserved salvation.
These stories become imperative when considering that the base form of these tales has been told over and over. Most people know them, or at least the broad strokes. So, finding new ways to retell them, to bring something fresh, helps keep the interest from waning. One of my personal goals and dreams is to see a revitalized youth ministry at my church. I do not set out to rewrite the bible, but I know that people respond to things they’ve never seen. I think this goes a long way to accomplishing this. And if it is effective in my small corner of the world, I know it has its use in a broader spectrum.
What advice would you give to a young aspiring writer?
Just keep writing. Vomit whatever words on the page that you need to. Pencils have erasers, computers have backspace. You can always improve your work. But it won’t be improved if there is nothing written down. Tell whatever weird or unique story that comes to you. None of us are as individual as we like to think we are. That may sound like a downer, but it can be a positive. It means that if you have a desire to see or tell a different kind of story, then other people have a desire to hear what you have to say.
Tell everyone why they should buy your books and what they can expect from them?
People should buy my books because I need the money. But honestly, it comes down to a genuine intent to shine a light on topics that not everyone is talking about. And the things that other people are talking about aren’t necessarily presenting them in the same way that I am. My audience can expect spiritual debate, action and adventure, odd powers, and a wide array of philosophical and theological perspectives.
You’re also a musician in church, what do you play?
I play drums and I have a rudimentary grasp of the piano. Drums are my preferred instrument. I have the most training and the most fun playing them.
What’s next for you?
I am finishing up a project for my church’s 90th anniversary. I also am working on a sequel to Plus Size. I’ve taken up a new trade in the professional world to add some experience to my arsenal of skills. I have started a YouTube channel with a coworker and a podcast. I expect to spend the next few months seriously pursuing those ventures and see what kind of returns, both experience-wise and financial I can receive.
Be sure to follow him on social media and support him by using these links to purchase his 3 books: Mark of the Demon, Into the Furnace, and Plus Size.
Click these links to follow him: Website │ Instagram │Facebook │YouTube
Photography credit by: Tavon Shannon
Writer, Debbie Stokes is a contributing writer. Follow her on Instagram @iamdebbiestokes
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