I am from Detroit, Michigan.
Before my book was titled Guns, Drugs or Wealth, it was called MIQ (which stood for “Money IQ”). I was settled on this name until I did a simple exercise that quickly made me change my mind. I put MIQ next to all of my favorite books and asked myself which book I would read. So, there was Think and Grow Rich, MIQ, The New Jim Crow, and Rich Dad, Poor Dad. From this exercise I realized that I would never think to pick up MIQ. I changed the name to Guns, Drugs, or Wealth.
I think that a book’s cover plays a huge role in selling the book. It is the book’s only chance to make a great impression to the world. I believe that the cover of the book, along with the words on the cover, is what sells the book. Erin Tyler designed my cover. She was exactly what my book needed.
I have read or listened to every business book or wealth-teaching book worth reading. After my own trial and error, I sum up how to create a billion-dollar fortune in layman’s terms. I cut to the chase. Guns, Drugs, or Wealth will motivate, inspire, and entertain you.
The most important message to me is figuring out if you are a reader or a listener. We need to figure out our strengths and weaknesses because we can only take over the world at our strongest. If you cannot catch up to a Harvard graduate by being one way, figure out a way to catch up by being different. I want my readers to educate themselves on the different forms of income I explain in my book and then dive in. Jump. Go for it.
My favorite chapter was “The Billionaire Track” where I talk about going to my mentor, Bill, and asking him how to get on his level. Asking him how to get myself on the right track in order to become a billionaire changed my life. He told me to write down all of my liabilities and my assets on a piece of paper. I did and I was surprised at the truth of the lack of assets I saw. After becoming liability-free by sacrificing fancy cars and other expenses that did not line up with my goal, Bill gave me a long list of books to listen to in order to build my mind which, in turn, help build my pockets. This is why I started a real estate investment company, focused more on my stock portfolio, and built up my training business more so than ever before.
Writing this book was so important to me because I grew up poor. Most of the time growing up my family did not have heat, water, electricity, or food. I responded poorly to the murders of my best friend, my brother, and my aunts. My response could have landed me in jail or a grave. I wrote this book because eighty percent of Americans are poor or middle class. I wrote this book because everyone deserves the opportunity to gain specialized knowledge to build wealth. With that, they deserve to know how to work on their own responses. To learn that their responses to life actions will define everything that they are and everything that they will become. The word “responsibility” literally means the ability to choose our responses. I needed to write this book because, like I stated before, I wanted people to know that if they cannot catch up to a Harvard graduate by being one way, figure out a way to catch up by being different.
I have never read a book cover to cover, except for my own. I have to listen to audiobooks.
I really want to go to Peru to explore Machu Picchu. I have heard so many different stories of how difficult it is and have seen so many photos. I want to conquer it.
I am definitely a morning person. I wake up at 5am every day. I am up and ready to go.
My brother, Fatt Father, is a very talented rap artist who writes his own songs.
Yes, I was a dreamer as a child. I always knew there was something bigger than what was in front of me. I don’t know how I knew, but I did. I would look up into the stars, the moon, and tell myself that there had to be another life out there. A life with less pain and more wealth.
I would wish to bring my brother Sam back to life. He was murdered on my mom’s birthday. This caused a lot of pain in many different ways.
Losing my brother Sam on my mom’s birthday is by far the hardest thing that has ever happened to my family. It’s hard. People don’t understand. But here me when I say that now I live for two.
A.S.: Thank you so much for having me. I think people will really love A Lady's Virtue, the story of how Sylvia and Anthony find happiness.
The Everton Domestic Society is an organization created by Lord Rupert and Lady Jane Everton. It is a place where ladies unable or unwilling to marry can live and work safely and within the strict rules of the ton. When a lady comes to live in Everton House her skills are assessed, and she is given an assignment. Some jobs last a week and other go on for months. Footmen, guards and chaperones are all provided by Everton's as needed for safety and propriety. Lady Jane runs the show, and she is not a lady to be gainsaid. There are rules that each Everton Lady must follow and each assignment is different from the last.
A.S.: Sylvia Dowder (who you first meet in Tainted Bride) is a spirited woman who was happily engaged to the second son of a Viscount. When her intended's older brother dies, her fiancée is elevated and no longer feels she is a grand enough wife for him. He ends the engagement leaving her life shattered. Having endured an extremely long engagement, her family only has enough money left to put forth one of their twin daughters. Since Sylvia is such a disappointment, they choose Serena. Mother is obsessed with getting Serena married. Unable to take the derision of her parents, Sylvia leaves home and joins the Everton Domestic Society.
Anthony Braighton (you can find him in several earlier stories including the Forever Brides series) is an American who moved to England when his sister married an earl. After the sudden death of his cousin, he is unexpectedly raised to the title of Earl of Grafton. He never wanted a title, but he enjoys the attention. However, his mother thinks a proper earl should marry. To prove her wrong and give himself time to pursue his other goals, he hires an Everton Lady to act as his hostess.
A.S.: From the moment Sylvia and Anthony collide (literally) it's difficult to look away from their story. Here are two people set against marriage, for different reasons, but they can't stay away from each other.
Then there's a moment when Sylvia and her chaperone (an Everton Dowager) visit Anthony's new home. He is like a giddy child awaiting their arrival. There's something so charming about his desire to see Sylvia, you won't be able to resist him.
What did you want to become when you were a kid?A.S.: You know that old saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover."? Well, everyone judges a book by it's cover.
EVERYONE!
A good cover is why people take the book off the shelf and read the back cover blurb when they've never read that author before. I've been very lucky. The covers for all my Everton Domestic Society books have been stunning while also giving the feel of the story within.
Do your novels carry a message?A.S.: An actress. For as long as I could remember, I wanted to be on the stage. I was a painfully shy child and becoming someone else for a while was extremely freeing. I studied at Theater Arts High School one day a week during my senior year and went on to college as a theater major. That was where I discovered the life of a starving actor was not for me.
A.S.: I write historical romance about empowered women. It's not always easy to create a believable scenario where tough smart women can thrive in Regency London. I want to empower women in any time, and show there are men who prefer intelligence over passivity.Is there anything you’d like to tell your readers and fans
A.S.: I truly hope you will love A Lady's Virtue. Sylvia and Anthony are very dear to my heart. They called out for years to have their story told, and I'm proud to share them with all of you. Enjoy and thank you.
John: An idea popped in my head of a guy going down to a shadowy world to steal something. The planet itself was from an idea I had from years before.
John: Thad is reckless and selfish but has other virtuous qualities like loyalty. Maggie is rough on the outside and soft on the inside. She needs the day to day structure of military life, and deep down she has old pain that haunts her.
John: Of the three books, I would say Sudwig Lucher, a very large, blue-skinned Meganite with a gentle spirit.
John: The series takes place in Guild Space, several hundred years in the future. There is Guild Space and there is Confederation Space. All are descendants of Expansion and are so far away in the galaxy it would take a hundred years to get back to Earth. They’ve also lost all contact with Earth and don’t know why.
John: In the first book when Thad decides to go on with his mission though it seems failure is inevitable.
John: I’m currently editing my latest novel, The Dark. It’s sci/fi horror. Give the Guild Saga a read, beginning with the Wonk Decelerator then keep your eyes peeled for The Dark!
