INTERVIEW and EXCERPT
She is Nature
by Carlton Grant
Author Carlton Grant stops by today for an interview and to share an excerpt from his debut short story collection, She is Nature.
Description
She is Nature is a book of short stories shining a highlight on the importance of women's nature.
Excerpt
Afternoon
“Lexi, stop walking like we don’t have shit to talk about. Hurry up!”
Marcia Collins always has something to talk about. And what she means is, listen to my escapades and feelings without judging me or opening your mouth. Truthfully, if she wasn’t what you would call a friend, I would consider her the school whore. Fuck it, I still consider her that.
“Glad you decided to glide over. So guess what happened this weekend?”
I know better to respond to these vain questions. I made the mistake of answering once and she accused me of not being sensitive to her ‘serious matter’.
“Well, if you’re not going to guess, I’ll tell you. You know Eric Marsh? Well, last night I was at the mall, and as I’m coming out of Pink, I bump into him. Like, I literally, bump into him. My panties fall out of my bag onto the floor and guess what?”
Once again, just another set up.
“He picks them up, looks at them and says it’s good to know you appreciate lace and hands them back to me with a smile. I didn’t even know what to say. That’s a lie. I told him, don’t mistake class for a lack of taste and licked my lip. I promise you he was turned on. He didn’t even respond, he just raised his eyebrows and walked away. So what do you think? I should give him my number right?”
“Yeah. Sounds like a regular ole Casablanca moment.”
“I knew you’d understand. He’s in the line; I’m going to go make my move.”
There’s no reasoning with her. My sarcasm always becomes exactly what she wants to hear. My eyes follow her as she shamelessly flips her hair and grabs Eric by the belt. It would shock me if she didn’t become the madam of a brothel. I laugh and turn my attention to the cafeteria doors, just to see an unfamiliar face walk out. I don’t know what it was, because I’m no stranger to engaging, but my breath was being siphoned.
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]
Interview with the Author
For what age group do you recommend your book?
I recommend it to readers aged 18+.
What sparked the idea for this book?
There was a stage of my life, when I was in college, where I lived with enough girlfriends and dealt with enough situations involving females, not to mention the relationship I have with my female relatives. This book pretty much birthed itself as a by-product of my life.
What was the hardest part to write in this book?
I don't know about hardest, but the dedication to my grandmother was the most heartfelt, so you can say finding the courage for the dedication.
How do you hope this book affects its readers?
I want it to change their perspective of women and their behavior towards women.
How long did it take you to write this book?
I don't even remember.
What is your writing routine?
I wouldn't tell you that, come on.
How did you get your book published?
I self-published just over a week ago.
What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Give it your all. Be as unique as possible.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Explore and be active.
What does your family think of your writing?
I'm the next Shakespeare.
Please tell us a bit about your childhood.
I come from love and support, mostly.
Did you like to read when you were a child?
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I never realized it, I just always did as much as I could for as long as I can remember.
Did your childhood experiences influence your writing?
Maybe the freedom to explore ideas did but, outside of that, most of my experiences come from my teen-to-early-adult years.
Which writers have influenced you the most?
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
As of right now, I receive words of excitement, support, and encouragement.
What can we look forward to from you in the future?
New formats.
Thanks for visiting today, Carlton. Best of luck with your future projects.
About the Author
Carlton X. Grant was born to Caribbean parents in Brooklyn, New York's Bedford Stuyvesant, better known as Stuyvesant Heights area nowadays. Carlton, an FIU attendee, a scholar by effort and self-motivated by nature, bypassed the offers of MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and Oxford to bring you a voice all his own.
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