Marlon's Creative Process
BHC: Okay, time to move on to your creative process. Remember, a lot of up-and-coming artists and writers will want to know how you did it. Let's begin with your description of the most difficult part of your artistic process?
MM: The most difficult part of the artistic process has to be multi-tasking! Having to do the business, be the creative, and be the promoter all at the same time. Doing all three in one is the hardest part.
BHC: Just for laughs, how many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? For example, as a writer, I (Rita Lorraine of The Black History Channel) have 45 stories in various stages of completion. That's quite a to-do list. How about you?
MM: All the books I’ve started (except for those I’m working on at this moment) I’ve finished. Everything else is in my head. You see, I’ve also been working at advertising agencies for over two decades, and in that work atmosphere, you always finish your project before starting your next project, or... you’ll get fired.
BHC: Understood. I wish I was that efficient! Switching gears now, did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
MM: Yes, definitely. I eventually would like to do some nonfiction books, like how to break into the creative advertising as an African American. I'll use a pseudonym for that one.
BHC: Wow, that title sounds fantastic. Please keep us posted on that one! Now, what was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
MM: The best money I ever spent as a writer was in hiring an editor. Buying a brand-new computer is important, too, but you can’t play with not having an editor.
BHC: How many hours a day do you write, and how long do you research before beginning a book?
MM: Well, my research is ongoing. I may spend a couple of weeks researching before I decide to flush out the story, but I’m usually researching throughout the process. That includes name, mythology, clothing, etc. I do this to bring as much authenticity to the characters. But even while researching is going on, I spend two hours a day working on a book, and perhaps 8 hours on the weekend.
BHC: We recently reviewed your picture book, Uptown Dragon (See Review Here). What did you edit out of the Uptown Dragon book? And are you planning any sequels for the book?
MM: Originally, the title was not Uptown Dragon. The working title was Brooklyn Dragon. So that's something I edited out. Also, I edited out the vocabulary in reference to the police attacking Kamal. I just didn’t want the language to sound too violent because I knew children would be reading the book. As for sequels, no, I'm not planning any sequels right now, but there will be a sequel sometime in the future.
BHC: We're curious, does your family support your career as a writer?
MM: Definitely, yes! My mother supports it because I already had a career as a Creative Director. This pays my bills and mortgage and puts my daughter through private school. The publishing company is the vehicle to free me from the corporate world and allow me to work for myself.
