What an absolute pleasure guys! I’ve not done a Meet The Author feature for a minute! This month we have two, first up is Peter Mack. I’ve read two of his novels which he describes as ‘love n’ hustle’. I found them to be great reads, with a great fast paced realistic feel to them. I’ve read Powder most recently, the review is here. It was a great five star read for me personally. And also a urban crime fiction Stone De La Bru which you can read the review for here. So,  with twenty-five books under his belt, let’s get to know Peter.

Hello nice to meet you! Tell us a bit about you where are you from and other than writing what else do you enjoy?

My name is Isiko Peter Mack Cooks. I’m from Los Angeles, California. USA. I’ve authored over 25 novels. I enjoy art, fine dining and pretty smart women.

Kim- LOLZ ‘pretty smart women’ mmm-kay *can’t stop laughing*

How did you start writing? What was your inspiration to create?

I began writing after an arrest for trafficking narcotics. I prayed that my life would change. After this prayer I dreamed my first novel and have been dreaming and writing novels for 12 years now.

Who is your favourite author, is there anyone out there that inspires you?

Walter Mosley is my mentor.

What genre do you enjoy reading?

I love to read all genres that reflect real life.

Kim- agreed, that in all honest is what really drew me in when I read your work, I found what I’ve read so far incredibly believable and I’m so far from LA!

How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

My process has never changed. I still fold a sheet of paper in thirds and write out my outline using bullet points.

Kim- No way! Pen and paper  *salut.* That really is something, but I wonder why you fold it in thirds?… maybe that’s a conversation for another day… 

So you’ve published a series, or books that link what is the series about?

All of my novels are related as life and people are related. Each subsequent novel features a minor character from a previous novel while advancing common narratives.

Kim- that’s real clever! And as a reader, it does make you want to know the back story of the characters when you meet them, I liked that.

What was it like creating back to back stories that link?

It’s nice because everyone is represented with a new story to tell.

Where did you draw your inspiration for the plot in POWDER?

As many readers know Ayana is based on my relationship with a woman. POWDER represents the culmination of that relationship while featuring real life situations with Ayana.

It’s interesting that your male line up are very powerful men, but they are not stereotypical. These are business men, with overseas links in property, oil etc. What made you decide to have such a powerful male line up, that are not the norm? Was this a conscious decision?

Yes. These men represent a higher ideal of the norm. They represent the possibilities that exist outside the norm for perhaps inspiration. There may be a reader who discovers a new opportunity from what’s been introduced on the page. The Black Revolutionary Underground is prevalent in all my novels. They represent an organized pursuit for peace, power and position.

Kim- It struck me, I was really surprised at the level of power these men had, but power that was worth having and could really make a difference in their communities. Kudos to you.

Tell us a bit about Prada, your character I found her soooooooo interesting. What made you feature a trans-sexual character?

Prada was first introduced in my novel LICKS. This is at a time when the trans character from Orange Is The New Black debuted. I wanted to feature a character who was totally developed without her sexuality being the focus. It’s interesting that Prada gets so much positive attention.

Kim- Yes! Prada is amazing. I liked her from meeting her in POWDER. She is one of your characters I’d like to learn the backstory of. LICKS okay, noted I’ll read that one. I found her to be caring, feminine, strong and at time funny. But, boy did she know how to get what she wanted. *raises eyebrows* no spoilers from  me!

Your main guy in POWDER who is trying to take down the ‘family’ is a devil worshiper. Tell us about this, what made you spin this into your plot? I found him a very interesting character.

I knew a Satanist and was always interested in portraying and delving into this belief system. I’m always inputting real life situations and people into my novels for part education and part entertainment. Spider was my way of introducing Satanism in a way that could easily observed without judgment.

Kim- most people who know me know I’m as eccentric as f*** , and love learning about the ‘unusual’. This kind of worship has been linked to the music industry and all kinds of every day ways of life. Celebrities and call kinds. How much of this is true, if they do part take in this we’ll never know. That said, this school of thought about Satanism has been on the rise…. underground maybe. It’s kinda scary really, as much as I like to know a little about everything I find it all very bizarre and scary and that’s coming from a bit of an eccentric! LOL.  It made great reading with Spider’s character and totally fitting for the mission he was on.

Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre? If you could what genre would you like to dabble in?

I consider my writing senseless because of the various elements and subject matter explored. There will be a murder mystery while a romance is budding. The will be a crime while a thriller is being walked through. I consider my writing love and hustle. It has been my intention to return love and respect to the art of creative fiction.

You have written a lot of books, where should readers start from your catalogue? I intend to make my way through them all!

Start with my memoir, FILTHY to get to know where I come from and my influences. And my first Peter Mack novel is A Neighborly Affair. This is a great place to start to learn what defines my writing and subject matter.

What has been your most proud moment as an author?

I’ve been able to stop selling drugs. Writing has supplied me with all my needs and wants. Every time I see my vision in print is a favorite moment.

Kim- I’m so proud of you! That’s an excellent achievement. I can only imagine what the streets of LA are like, when it comes to the drug trade and doing it to keep yourself above water. 

Was there ever a time you wanted to pick up your laptop, and then launch it out the window with frustration?

Nope.

Kim- bursts out laughing!! That is so not fair!! It happens to me all the time.

Are you a “plotter” or a fly by the seat of your pants “pantster” as a writer?

I write from an outline and rely on bullet points to move the story along but invariably about two thirds through the novel it takes a different turn and this is when I begin to really get into innovating with the novel.

Am I the only one who gets hung up on commas? Do they make you go blah! when you’re writing?

I use commas when a rhythm needs to be established.

I really like Stone Sweetwater, how did you craft him and what was the inspiration?

Stone Sweetwater appears in several novels beginning with The Family Sweetwater. He is all that I aspire to be. He is a successful young man who makes all the right moves. He is respected and loved for his trustworthiness and generosity.

Kim- yeah, he came across a real sweetheart. I think readers would like him.

You also featured yourself ( kinda) in POWDER I loved this! Towards the end. Tell us about this why was this decision made, and what made you do it?

Well, I cameo my name in several of my novels as the BRU Capo. With POWDER there is the culmination of what I’ve been writing for. Freedom. Art mirrors life as I embark upon my release from prison. I’ve been able to write into existence through my novels and my release will be no different.

What three tips would you give any aspiring writer?

Keep writing. Learn your craft. Keep writing

What are you working on now? What will you release next?

Filthy 2 for summer 2020

So… where can we get your books?

Amazon. Also get a fuller experience with Amazon links, reviews and more at http://www.PeterMackPresents.com

What are the most important magazines for writers to subscribe to?

I subscribe to The Atlantic Monthly, Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone… .these help me stay abreast of current topics.

What does “success” look like to you? When would you say “damn, I’ve made it baby!”

Freedom. Making films.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

Yes. I do research to make the experience authentic.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

I do read reviews. From bad one’s I learn. Good ones I’m validated.

Do you Google yourself?

Ha! Amazing question. I did google #LiveRichDieReady only to learn this hashtag leads right back to me which is cool.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

At a chapter a day after a two week outline it takes me forty to sixty days to complete a novel.

What’s your favourite movie?

The Mack. “Stick yourself Tony!”

What’s your favourite book and why?

My favorite book is Killing Johnny Fry by Walter Mosley. Its the best erotic novel I’ve ever read.

Kim- Oh wow, ever heard of that one.

What music do you like?

Hip hop and r & b.

Where would you like to travel to and why?

Anywhere outside this PRISON.

Tell us about how you develop your characters?

My characters are developed by my environment.

Which one of your characters is your favourite and why?

Ayana is my favorite. She has endured and mirrored my relationship with the woman who inspired her character.

How do you ensure when it comes to the urban genre, how do you ensure that your stories are realistic and believable ? I must say, I found POWDER to be very believable.

Well, my real life is infused in my novels. My inspirations and motivations are written on the page. Readers sometimes find it difficult to separate fact from fiction in my novels. That’s the trick. The more you read the more you know about me.

What would you like readers to know?

That I appreciate you.

Thank you so much Peter Mack, we readers appreciate you. I recommend readers check out this author’s  work. POWDER is out now, I read it and loved it. It’s here on Amazon. and free to read on Kindle Unlimited at the time of this interview!

 

 

Nipsey Hussle’s murder rocks the streets of Los Angeles as the Black Revolutionary Underground, under federal investigation for drug trafficking, money laundering and organized crime, loses members to Spider, a Satanist, murdering his way to Ayana Cherry who’s saved by an arrest for the year-old murder of her boyfriend at Applebottoms Gentlemen’s Club.
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Ayana returns to Los Angeles to assist her ailing mother when she finds love in an unsuspecting place, and in a man who is as mysterious yet familiar as he is wealthy.
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Prada enjoys a life of privilege and luxury. She travels the world and is adored by wealthy men for her secret treasure. But there’s something missing in her life.
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A mission of sexual intrigue brings Ayana and Prada together to save one from her past and the other from her future. The result will haunt them both.
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Prada is called in to deliver Spider to Stone Sweetwater, a BRU member, when Ayana”s fiance and BRU moneyman is gunned down just as the BRU family embarks on a billion dollar economic platform in partnership with Nipsey Hussle.
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What follows is the execution of a plan that includes sexual blackmail, torture and deception to capture Spider, free Ayana, return exiled BRU members, and restore order to the Black Revolutionary Underground.
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Love can be conditional Loyalty must be absoluteBoth come at a price.
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This novel also features Brenda (Brenda: Barely Legal), Nutcracker (S’Murda At Sweetwater Manor), Rev. Mathias Lovejoy (A Neighborly Affair), Starla ( LICKS: Dirty. Nasty. Daddy.) and Stone Sweetwater ( The Family Sweetwater) with excerpts from complimentary novels.
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POWDER serves as the culmination of interwoven narratives from reader favorite novels, detailing the BRU family and the common goal they all share.
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POWDER also includes exclusive author photos and a Pascal DuPree Writing Gems Podcast interview of the author which reveals the motivation for his vision.
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Peter Mack is the pen name of Isiko Cooks, recipient of a 2015 PEN America Center book prize for his memoir, FILTHY: Innocence Lost. He is President of Peter Mack Presents, LLC; founder of Signature Peter Mack Apparel, and author of over 25 books. He is from Los Angeles, California.
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Learn more about this dynamic novelist and business owner. Interviews. Reviews. Videos. Bio. Pics. Social Media links and more at http://www.PeterMackPresents.com*Contact:Email: Isiko.raymond@gmail.com
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