October is National Book Month.
A time to promote and support books and authors. The first national book month was established in October 2003, however, the first national book award was given in May 1936. The National Book Awards was established in 1950 and the 73rd National Book Awards will be broadcast this upcoming November.
Author Omar Scott’s first book Troubled Waters was published in 2008 and he has written and published three books since then. His fourth book Loyal to a Fault will be available on October 17th.
What are some ways that readers can support you and other authors during national book month?
OS: The best way to support and connect with an author is to follow us on social media. Leave feedback in the comment sections. Let us know how you personally connected with the story, and share with us if there are characters that are similar to friends and family members. Tell us what you like on sites like Goodreads and Amazon. Come to book signings and meet-and-greets. We love to personally interact with fans and take pictures and sign copies. And never forget books make great gifts.
You live in Texas. A big move from Los Angeles to Dallas while still in school, what was that transition like? What were the best and worst parts of this move? (Note: Change is often not easy but beneficial in the long. Speak to that as well.
Moving to Dallas, one of the biggest challenges was moving away from my family. It was only my immediate family in Dallas, and I missed my cousins, grandparents, etc. Also, the most significant difference is the accent. Texans have different pronunciations and slang from people in LA, and of course, kids tend to make fun of anybody that’s different. So I got made fun of a lot in the beginning. But the thing I loved most about moving to Dallas was building my family, meeting the love of my life, my wife April, and the birth of our beautiful daughter, Stevonne.
With Sistah Soulja as an inspiration, share your favorite work and or quotes from her. Give us a little backstory on how she inspires you. (What about her book(s) made you want to become a writer of crime fiction?) Any other influences or favorite authors we should check out?
OS: The Coldest Winter Ever by Sistah Souljah was the first fiction book I bought as an adult. It blew my mind that stories like that were in print. I couldn’t put it down. It was the real journey of what black people in the hood have to deal with every day. It made me believe that if it was okay for Sistah Souljah to write about what she sees and feels using that type of language, it’s okay for me to do the same. I felt the same way after reading Donald Goines’ White Man’s Justice, Black Man’s Grief. These stories opened my eyes to the possibilities of telling narratives inspired by my urban experiences. It made me think of all the things I’d been through, the people I knew, and how it all could serve as a foundation to write a novel. The idea that there was an audience that would be curious to read urban-inspired fiction was exciting.
What is the inspiration for your new novel, Loyal to A Fault? Do you share any of your own truth within the storyline?
OS: There is a little of my truth in every story I write. That’s why my books are so personal to me. I give you a little piece of myself in everyone. There’s a little of my pain, struggle, and family dynamic woven into each tale I’ve told. I came from a broken home and a tough neighborhood. I’ve had more family and friends that went to prison instead of college. I’ve known good people that made bad decisions, and those decisions have led to terrible consequences. These life lessons are what is at the heart of every story I write. At the core of what I believe is this: Imperfect people, living in an imperfect world, making imperfect decisions, and having to deal with the consequences. In my new book, one of the things that influence those bad decisions is loyalty.
Loyal to a Fault is not your first book, tell us about your previous work.
OS: I’ve written three previous books. And each one has its own unique theme. The first is “When a Good Will Goes Bad”. The message here is when you dig up the past, all you get is dirty. This story addresses why it’s so hard to move on from your past, and how it haunts you. And doing the toughest thing in life, forgiving yourself for the mistakes you’ve made. My sophomore novel “The Hands of Love” shines a light on the fact that everyone has a dark side. It’s a classic tale of what goes around comes around. Karma! A dirty cop whose been getting over for years, now finds himself framed for murder. The last one “Meet Mr. Wright” asks the question, can a gangster be saved? This coming-of-age story is told through the eyes of the head of a crime family who has been shot in an ambush. Facing imminent death from his wounds, a catholic nurse comes to give him his last rights and what happens next is a very valuable lesson.
What unforgettable lesson was learned from your incarceration as a young person? How do you feel it can help others?
OS: As a young kid we moved around so much, I struggled to fit in. I struggled to find my own identity. I didn’t know my own worth, and I didn’t value myself. I looked for validation from others. An example of this is a time I went to the store with some kids from my hood to get some candy. I think we were in the fifth grade. I had five dollars in my pocket, but the rest of the kids were broke. They stole, and because I wanted to be like them, to be tough like them, I stole a snickers bar too. Ironically enough, I was the only one to get caught. You would’ve thought I learned my lesson then. I would tell my younger self and any kid suffering from trying to find their place in this world, to be true to themselves and don’t look for validation from others, because it always comes at a price.
Book-to-film adaptation is on the rise for black authors and producers. If your books were to become movies, who would you pick to play the parts of your main characters and why? Big screen or streaming?
OS: In my latest novel Loyal to a Fault, the main character, Dez I could see being portrayed by Michael Ealy. His characters seem to have a lot of emotional depth, and I think that would be perfect to play a man who’s in pain and looking for revenge. His antagonist Chops from the Bronx, I could see Mike Colter playing this role. He’s a smooth fellow, but he looks like he could turn vicious in a minute. The female lead caught the eyes of both men, I could see that being played by Zoe Saldana. She has a Hispanic and black heritage that’s the same as Pia. And I think Zoe has that kind of character that could bring mystery and intrigue.
What advice would you give someone looking to write their first book?
OS: Show yourself as knowledgeable and willing to share information. Writing a book is a personal journey that requires discipline and self-motivation. Nobody is going to make you do it. It’s got to be something you’re passionate about. This will help you stay committed. Trust your voice, it’s what makes your writing unique. Also, I think people get discouraged by the process of writing books. It can feel like a daunting task, but I say the key is to get the story out of your head and on paper (computer). Because the most important part of writing any book is the rewrite/editing. You rewrite it and tweak it over and over again until you turn that rough draft into a solid story.
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