Interview with Derrick Walker

Author of The Other Side of Love

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I’m originally from New Orleans, Louisiana; however, I currently live in Stafford, Virginia.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

I joined the US Coast Guard at 18 years old where I spent 8.5 years in and ultimately ended up in Virginia after being stationed in Washington, DC at Coast Guard Headquarters.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I’ve had a passion for writing most of my life and felt that it was time to express myself and the emotions that drive me. Writing is something that I’ve craved to do for so long that this was my moment to open up and express myself.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

It is a book about relationships. It touches on the good and the bad including the emotions that run along with both. My book is about love, pain, sex, and intimacy. If you’ve been in a relationship you can relate to the pages within the book.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

That’s an easy one. Romantics will be caught up with it the most but it’s not just for them. I’ve had a lot of people who are not tell me that they couldn’t put it down. But the romantics are the ones who will have the most fun with it in my opinion.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

The very first thing that I learned was the right music helps to relay the emotion of the piece. It’s easy to entangle the words and the melody together to come up with something that is unexpected. I also learned how to use curse words. I wanted to challenge myself a bit more and push the envelope with how much of myself I was willing to share with the world and while it was very difficult at first I think that I did alright with it. Publishing was kind of a mess. I lost some money with it but gained more experience than the money that I wasted.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Be true to yourself. Don’t look for the granger of traditional publishing to define something about your book. Learn more about publishing and dissect it to understand it more. Grow your following first. Take to social media and grow your following before publishing.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Millions.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Getting the book into the hands of readers has been difficult. I am making strides but have literally put my second book on hold in order to reach more people before it’s release.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Writing is my biggest strength mainly because I can sit and write or stand and write or walk and write much of the day. Emotion comes to me with such ease that the words are easy.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Marketing is my weakness right now. I’ve not overcome it but making some meager strides.

When do you think you will write your next book?

My next book is about 85 percent complete but I’m holding out to focus on creating a social media presence. I’ve already started on the third nook as well. I’m developing the characters of it right now but taking it slow to ensure it’s better than the first two.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I went with a hybrid publisher with the first book. I am undecided about the second.