PRIDEINDEX: Provide a listing of all of your books and the year published.
TERRANCE DEAN: Reclaim Your Power! A 30-Day Guide to Hope, Healing and Inspiration for Men of Color (Villard – May 2003) Hiding In Hip Hop – On The Down Low in the Entertainment Industry From Music to Hollywood (Atria – May 2008)
PI: Where did you find the inspiration for each book?
TD: I love writing inspirational and motivational stories, and books. I love helping others feel empowered and encouraged through my works. With each of my works I think of the reader and how they will be moved in their lives.
PI: What is your earliest memory of being a writer?
TD: I started writing when I was in high school. I was on the school newspaper. I loved writing, but an English teacher discouraged me because she didn’t like my writing style. She thought I was high when I wrote many stories. So, I stopped writing until I got to college. My professors encouraged me, but I always heard my high school English teacher in the back of my head saying, “You can’t write.” That was a huge hurdle I had to get over. After college I kept journals and wrote every day. Then it nurtured itself into all aspects of my life.
PI: When were you first published? And under what circumstances?
TD: I was first published in 2003 with my book, “Reclaim Your Power!” A good friend, who is a former editor at Simon & Schuster, read my first book and asked if she could send it to one of her friends, who happened to be an editor at Random House. She loved the book and made me an offer.
PI: Please describe your current or most recent project. Include a brief overview, your motivation for the project, and any notable challenges you encountered.
TD: My current project is, “Visible Lives: Three Stories in Tribute to E. Lynn Harris.” I wanted to celebrate the life and legacy of E. Lynn Harris. He was a major figure in the literary world and an inspiration to many writers. He encouraged and helped so many others and I wanted to acknowledge his life and contribution to our community and the literary world. I also wanted to honor my friend and mentor.
PI: When and where did you first meet Mr. E. Lynn Harris?
TD: I first met E. Lynn when I did an event in Harlem at the YMCA called, “Real Men Cook.” As the organizer of the event, I invited E. Lynn to be the featured author. He graciously accepted and we became fast friends.The publisher came up with the title Visible Lives. However, it was my idea for the book. I called Stanley Bennett Clay, and James Earl Hardy to be a part of the anthology because I knew they were also friends of E. Lynn, and I wanted the three of us to honor him and pay homage to his legacy, and what he did for literature.
PI: Who came up with the title “Visible Lives?”
TD: The publisher came up with the title Visible Lives. However, it was my idea for the book. I called Stanley Bennett Clay, and James Earl Hardy to be a part of the anthology because I knew they were also friends of E. Lynn, and I wanted the three of us to honor him and pay homage to his legacy, and what he did for literature.
PI: How do you identify and nurture ideas for new projects?
TD: Ideas are everywhere. I can drive down the street and become motivated. i can hear a song, an artist and be inspired. I can walk in Harlem, Brooklyn, Compton, DC, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, Philly, Boston, hell, even Iowa, Mississippi and Oklahoma. There is inspiration all around us. You have to be in the moment to experience the moment. Once I allow the moment to happen, I then allow the characters to come through and speak. They tell me their entire life and story. I am just a conduit for their stories. I am God’s instrument and I allow myself to be played, and what the reader experiences is magic.
CDs: My Life by Mary J. Blige; and Songs In The Key of Life by Stevie Wonder
PI: Do you believe African American authors have an obligation to the African American community? Why or why not?
TD: I think any person, creator, artist, or innovator should be thinking of the greater good of humanity. Your obligation is to yourself first, and then to the world. You should inspire, motivate, encourage, and uplift others. I always ask myself, “Who will benefit from this? Who do I want to inspire? Why am I doing this? How will I become better and did I do my job?”I don’t know what biggest misconception is about me or my work. I do not get caught up in what others think of me and my work. As I stated earlier, I am always thinking of the greater good of myself and others. I am thinking of how can I be an inspiration to someone else, and grow into a bigger and better human/spiritual being. I would encourage others to not think or worry about misconceptions. People have their own ideas, concepts, opinions, and judgments of you. That is not your problem.Never stop writing. Keep writing, reading, and meeting fellow authors. Don’t listen to the “no’s” you will hear. Every author experiences them, yet, those who are committed and dedicated to the craft will shine through and make a living at it. Also, study your craft. Study writing. Take a course, read, or whatever you do, study the craft.
PI: What is the biggest misconception about you and/or your work?
TD: I don’t know what biggest misconception is about me or my work. I do not get caught up in what others think of me and my work. As I stated earlier, I am always thinking of the greater good of myself and others. I am thinking of how can I be an inspiration to someone else, and grow into a bigger and better human/spiritual being. I would encourage others to not think or worry about misconceptions. People have their own ideas, concepts, opinions, and judgments of you. That is not your problem.
PI: Please describe 1-3 authors/writers/performers that have influenced your artistic style?
TD: E. Lynn Harris, Iceberg Slim, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, Dominick Dunne, Jackie Collins, Octavia Butler, Eric Jerome Dickey, and Junot Diaz. Performers – Beyonce, Puffy, Jay Z, Drake, Rachelle Farrell, Teena Marie, Kanye West.
PI: What 2 books and 2 CDs should everyone own?
TD: Books: “Mama Black Widow” by Iceberg Slim; and “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison.
PI: What advice would you give aspiring writers?
TD: Never stop writing. Keep writing, reading, and meeting fellow authors. Don’t listen to the “no’s” you will hear. Every author experiences them, yet, those who are committed and dedicated to the craft will shine through and make a living at it. Also, study your craft. Study writing. Take a course, read, or whatever you do, study the craft.
