“Caught Up”
Deatri King-Bey is an African American author who has wriitten a bold book about a family “caught up” in some major drama…Latino style drama! While it was “highly recommended” that she stick to 100% African American characters, she stuck to her instincts and wrote from the heart. The result is romance with a twist. _____________________________________________________________
BFC: What genre do you classify Caught Up?
Caught Up is a mainstream fiction with romance elements.
BFC: What is the main premise of Caught Up?
Often times when we as adults find out the things our parents did in their youth, the parent in our heart and mind just does not fit that person from the past. In Caught Up, Rosa Bolívar discovers some ugly truths about her parents in their youth that come back to haunt them in the present.
BFC: You mention that the first character you came to know in Caught Up was Ernesto. How did you start?
I was writing a romance where Ernesto was the godfather of the heroine and was supposed to be a minor character, but he kept taking over the story. People may think I’m crazy, but my characters actually take on a life of their own in my mind. Ernesto wanted his story told. I still tried to force him to remain in the romance, and it just wasn’t working. Then my writing coach advised that I love Ernesto so much that I need to go ahead and write a separate book for him. So I gave in and took him out of that romance and wrote Caught Up where we learn his life story.
BFC: Who inspired you?
My main inspiration is my older sister. Ever since we were little kids climbing the tree in my grandmother’s front yard, she’s entertained me with tales of adventure, love, mystery… She’s a great storyteller and writer. She can write anything from a business letter to a fantasy novel to literature. I’d like to be her when I grow up (SMILE).
BFC: Do you think Blacks/Latinos/Women have to work harder than any other group in the publishing industry?
I think minorities in general have to work harder. For example, many times our (Blacks and Latinos) books are separated and given our own little section. This has positives (we can be found easily by Blacks and Latinos), but it also has negatives (rarely do others besides Blacks and Latinos look in those sections unless they have a project that requires them to, or they are looking for our literary works.). Where as I as a reader go to all of the sections to find new books.
When I was a child, rarely did I see general fiction novels by Black authors. If you liked to read, you had to just get good books by whomever because if you were waiting on good books by Black authors…well…you get the picture. So, I, like many minorities, grew up reading books by authors from backgrounds different than my own. Thus, I learned to appreciate what other groups have to offer. Unfortunately, many in the majority have not learned this.
BFC: How do you want others to perceive your work?
As a great fiction that evokes human emotions and portrays human drama we can all relate to.
BFC: What was the culture of your home growing up? Were there any Latino influences.
The culture of my childhood home was Black. I left for the military two weeks after I turned eighteen. I was raised in a small town in central Illinois and had never actually been away from home. When I arrived at basic training, I learned there were a lot of other “kids” there just like me. All of us were scared and of course afraid to admit it. I don’t know why, but we automatically segregated ourselves. And for some reason, the Blacks and Latinas hung together, and the White and Asian females hung together.
I always tell people I was raised in central Illinois, but I didn’t grow up until I was in the military. We were a family. We took care of each other. Looked out for each other. Admired each other. Fought with each other. And loved each other. Just like any other family. So yes, there were many Latinos that influenced who I am today and also how I write.
BFC: Have you gotten any comments about the main characters being Hispanic?
Yes. It was “highly recommended” that I make the main characters 100% African-American. I had to be true to my characters.
BFC: Have you accomplished your dreams? If not yet, where else do your dreams take you – a few years from now?
My dream was to be a writer, but I’m not finished yet. I read all types of fiction and non-fiction. I want to have a novel published in every genre I read. Now that’s a lifetime goal, but hey, I might as well go for it.
BFC: What is one mistake that you do not want anyone to recreate?
The severe miscalculation of time. Getting your book out there is only the beginning. Marketing/publicity is expensive and very time consuming. Since I work in the industry, I knew that the publishing house does little to market individual authors, but the time I spend…Wow. It’s really something.
BFC: Do you have any words of inspiration for Artists that want to follow in your footsteps?
I’m dyslexic. When I was a small child, my parents were told I’d never learn how to read. Needless to say, I can read (SMILE). Don’t let the “haters” keep you from reaching for your dreams. Take the steps that lead in the direction you wish to go. Obtain a mentor. Fine tune the gift God gave you by learning your craft. And be the best that you can be.
Contact Deatri King-Bey: www.deewrites.com
am/07/06
