INTERVIEW
G-natti was interviewed by Terry Karne of Real
Scope Media out of Richmond, VA on January
17, 2007.
1. Your book is starting to make a rumble
nowadays. Lights Out is gradually getting out
to various geographical markets. How is it
really going?
It was slow starting out but once I got schooled
on the process and learned the book business, I
must say that sales started picking up. I've
learned that in this business, fans will not
initially seek you out but instead you have got
to deliver a product to them that will create a
fan for your work. It is definitely not an
automatic process.
2. Your book has been described as a real page
turner, book that folks can't put down once they
started reading it, and a very stimulating book
in somewhat of a sexual way. How do you
manage to incorporate all variables and still put
out an entertaining product.
Well, as you may know, my book is really about
true life experiences along with fiction laced in
to constitute the book as a fiction book. I
attempted initially to write what I thought men
would enjoy, the sports, the detail erotica, and
the professional piece for the sake of luring
men. However, women have literally taken the
book as though it was written for them and I
have enjoyed this incidental outcome. Men that
read my book literally enjoy it as well but men
do not read, per capita, nowhere near as much
as women do.
3. What geographical markets have been most
rewarding for you and what markets have
surprised you, if any?
The North and the West literally seem to read
my book moreso than the other geographic
locales. Though I have experienced negative
perspectives of the bible belt region, I still get
much love from that region but my most
lucrative markets are up North and out West.
Even when I'm down South, most of my buyers
are from the North or out West. There is still
some reluctance, I think, to the bible belt region
embracing my book but circulation and
distribution is a shortfall of mine. Although I'm
from the South, I may have just expected that
much more but I have probably been somewhat
of a controversial author myself. I'm expecting
the hard core bible belt region to embrace a
level of erotica they are not used to and it
probably just took some folks by surprise.
4. Now, I understand you are an ordained
minister who has pastored over two churches
and from what I understand you were a very
highly anointed and powerful preacher. You
were also a high ranking officer who has retired
from the military. How does that all factor into
your current writing style and the subjects you
choose to write about?
My writing today captures reality. I feel that I
can be effective conveying a needed message
in an entertaining form to society via my book
writing avenue. My writing will challenge as well
as enlighten people of today with a message,
enjoyment and a heavy dose of reality. Some
folks have problems with reading reality. My
spiritual background further increases my
writing ability in that I am committed to
providing some form of a message in somewhat
of a subtle way in my books.
5. Do you ever feel guilty, with your credential,
about writing erotica?
I did at first but let me share an experience that
I had that totally changed my life. I was in
Georgia at a book signing and this preacher
started preaching to me about the bible. Little
did he know, I knew the word just as much as, if
not more, than he did but I quietly listened.
However, when he misinterpreted certain bible
verses, I could not contain my silence. After I
spoke, he knew I was not a heathen. He offered
to purchase my book. I talked him out of it in
front of his wife and sister on the basis of the
heavy degree of erotica. He did not understand
me at first but after he did, he elected not to
buy my book. As soon as he walked away, I felt
the tugging of the Lord speaking to me. The
words that hit me upside the head was "How are
you going to say that I inspired you to write a
book but you feel uncomfortable selling to a
fellow preacher? How do you know that what
you have in your book was not designed and
perfected for him to read? There could have
been something special in your book that he
needed to read." I felt bad all day and I could
not sleep that night. It really affected my spirit
in a negative way, as I felt so much torture. It
was then that I decided I would no longer
apologize for the books that God has inspired
me to write.
6. G-natti, let's get real touchy and personal.
It's been rumored that you experienced a great
deal of hurt from your family's rejection of your
work. Talk about that briefly.
Well, I won't say that my family rejected my
work. I was contacted by friends of mine back
home and they informed me about the reaction
of certain family members to my book. I can
understand the confusion as the book does not
reflect my early roots. I confess that I am a
controversial individual but while I am yet being
transformed, I still feel the grace and power of
God within my life. I often cannot explain it but
it's there. I apologize to anyone in my family
that I may have embarrassed. I love my family
and always will.
7. I really don't know all that was said but I can
tell it really bothered you. Your eyes seem
flooded with tears.
Hey, I hurt real badly from the words that I
heard from my family members. Nevertheless, I
don't hold anything against anyone. I probably
confused them just as much as they hurt me.
Nevertheless, family is all I got right now and
some loyal fans. I would still give anyone of
them the shirt off my back, if need be.
8. I understand you took that hurt and retooled
that negative energy into a poem. What is the
name of the poem?
The name of the poem is Hard Words.
9. Can you recite it or do you care to share
some of the words with me?
Sure, why not?
Pen in my hand, words fighting for my time,
trying to release these thoughts that seem to
occupy my mind
I go shopping at the store, cause I'm a baller to
the core, I take my debit card and charge it, all
the way to the floor
Ladies blowing up my cell, whispering their
sweet nothings, always offering me some tail,
but I'm not about corrupting
They don't understand my drive, for I'm trying
to cop a bill and not barely just survive,
What's a brotha to do? I'm just trying to get
paid, Right now is not the time, I'm not trying to
get laid
Like many, I too have been through some things
that could have crippled my very soul; family,
institution, God! Nobody really knows
You tell folks you getting a divorce, they wanna
know about your loot, don't give a damn about
your course, steady trying to eat your fruit
Then the very ones you love who you think
know you so well, become focused on your
paper, it becomes a living hell
They don't understand your plight, but they feel
they have a right, to your hard earned dough,
it's no longer your show
You just happened to drop a book, now they
treat you like a crook, because according to
them, you owe all of them a hook
Oh yes they hurt me oh so bad, made me oh so
mad, their shallow views and hard words will
keep me writing on a pad
Did they ever call my house after I lost my
spouse?
When fame came, they put in their bids, didn't
even call and ask about my kids
I guess you really have to learn to cut certain
people off, they can really wreck your mind,
they can make you feel so lost
Family, I'm just trying to get out the gate, please
learn not to hate, I'm the same ole country boy
that you used to elevate
Was the first to graduate from college, I'm just
trying to use my knowledge, I'm still motivated
by hope, just give me some time to lower that
rope
Do me a favor and please let this savor, just
pray for my kids, and for their next door
neighbor
10. Whoa! G-natti, that is deep! Do you know
how many people can relate to that poem? How
can I get a copy? Is this in your soon to be
released poetry book?
Yes it is. It is one of my most favorite poems
because of what I was feeling when I wrote it.
It will be featured in my poetry book. Hopefully,
I should have the book out towards the late
summer after I release The Carterchronic.
11. Do you feel your book is good for
everyone? I mean, I know I definitely can relate
to the poetry book and I understand both men
and women can relate to your first book.
Well, commercially speaking I would be inclined
to say yes. I really believe all adult age people
can read and enjoy and get alot out of my
book. I also agree that the hard core church
community can and will also get alot out of my
book. It does have some valuable spiritual
elements in it as well.
12. Okay G-natti, I understand you formed your
own publishing label, Bathwater Press, Inc.
What next can we expect from your camp?
Well, later in the year, about a couple of months
from now I will be releasing my sequel to Lights
Out, Game Ova which is entitled, The
Carterchronic: Til Death Do Us. Once again, I'll
be releasing my poetry book, called G-noetry:
Affairs of the heart. I'll also be releasing my
first kid's novel entitled, Broken Ankles. Later
in the year, I'll release Salty Roots: Seeds of
Darkness Erupt, When too many ain't enough,
The Author, which is a unique comedy book
about my fans and I'll be publishing my first
poet Jerome Redd's poetry book. In addition,
I'll be participating in my 2nd Annual Book
Cruise with Carnival where we will be going to
the Grand Cayman Islands and Jamaica. I look
forward to the cruise because it gives me a
chance to socialize and vacation with some of
my fans. We really do have a great time from
the pre-cruise activity on South Beach up until
the time we return to the port. I can't wait to go
this year and have the most fun of my life.
13. Wow! That truly sounds like a full plate. I
must applaud you on your endeavors and
encourage you to keep on doing what you are
doing in this industry. You are steps away from
blowing up and I appreciate the opportunity to
be a part of your success. Before I forget,
please inform me what motivates or drive you?
Rejection, closed doors, embarrassment and
humiliation, family deaths, and God's grace and
fiery determination. Every form of rejection
keeps me perfecting my craft and that much
more determined to succeed. When more doors
close than open, when more folks look away
from my work and turn their nose up at me,
when everyone seems to turn on you and your
endeavors, a fire within me is rekindled
throughout every negative experience. I will
become a powerful force within this industry.
14. G-natti, I can tell by the look in your eyes
that you will achieve your literary goals. I bid
you Godspeed throughout your efforts and
don't ever give up! Please keep on writing.
Your talent will reshape alot of minds and help
challenge our people to a greater standard and
measure.
Hey thanks Terry for the interview and I really
do appreciate your word of mouth
advertisement of my book. It's the most
powerful advertising tool and I have definitely
felt the love. Peace be unto you!
G-natti Interviewed By FELICIA ROSS on 1
January 2006;
Regal Accents
G-natti on the move! See
BROTHER2BROTHER...Dallas, Texas
1. What was your inspiration for writing a book?
I felt inspired from the good Lord above. I
wanted to provide both a source of
entertainment and a message that I felt inspired
to give to fellow sisters and brothers. Now,
traditional minds will doubt that I was inspired
from above by the nature of my material. I'm
certain I'll be condemned as being heathen by
the moral majority or traditionally viewed church
community.
2. Why did you use the name Galuminatti and
what does it mean?
I felt illuminated from above and I wanted to use
that word in my name. The closest that I could
come to providing that word in name was
illuminati. I elected to keep the sound and place
a G at the front of the word with a slight
different spelling as a way of my praise to God.
3. How do you feel about your controversial
writing style and approach?
I consider myself a pioneer of my time.
Sometimes you must take a gamble or risk in
life for what you feel true compassion for and
for what your heart yearns inside for. I want to
inspire readers to a higher level of
entertainment, sprinkled with life changing
messages, while encouraging them to be true to
themselves and not shun the true source of our
overall existence. We have a tendency to be
neutral about uncut hip hop music, alternative
lifestyle living, and mediocre education
strategies for our kids, all at our kids' expense
but we will be quick to publicly shun written
erotica although we perform such with our
significant others behind closed doors. Don't
misunderstand me. I'm not saying that what is
done in the bedroom should be placed center
stage, but we should not be so hypocritical by
pretending like we know absolutely nothing
about sex. This is why kids who have been
totally sheltered go to college and get turned
out by the wrong sources of stimulation. Let's
face it. We are sexual human beings and I
vouch that knowledge of sexual boundaries will
better prepare kids growing up as opposed to
forcing them to experience on their own. Too
many unplanned pregnancies, detrimental guilt
and repression results from society pretending
to be ignorant of a past time of most people. I
don't want my kids learning sexual exploits from
videos as opposed to having mom and dad
discussing with them the pros and cons, ups
and downs of sexual activity. My writing is all
about education but in a very entertaining form.
It’s okay to feel and be sexual at the appropriate
time or times of one's life. We seem to treat it
as dirt and fake it as such while our kids grow
up thinking its wrong and unclean even in
adulthood with their spouses, but the
appropriate performance within such
circumstances are actually beautiful and not
within the category of filth and dirt. God created
this act as a dependent and fulfilling act
between a man and woman. Don't hate what
God created.
4. Your perspectives will be contested and your
graphic writing
depictions could be ridiculed. How will you
respond to such?
This is a brutal business. Regardless of what
you write, some will not like what you put out
and thus my measuring rod stems from my
internal spiritual compass. As long as I feel
inspired to write from above, I will write
accordingly. Hate mail and all that jazz will
merely fuel my fire to write to the best of my
ability.
5. What advice do you have for aspiring authors
and "would be" writers?
Pray about your desire and let the good Lord
above lead you accordingly. Believe on the
basis of the fire that is placed inside of you and
don't let no one, no one tell you what you
cannot do, nor tell you what you will not do.
Defy the odds. Then, work hard to perfect your
craft. It’s okay to still away from mainstream
society just to focus on you and improve or
perfect your craft.
6. How long did it take you to write your first
book?
Well, I seem to write in surges. My first book
was written in about a year's time. If all I did was
write and had no social or family obligations, I
could probably write more at a faster pace.
However, that's pretty unrealistic. I think a good
book can be written within a month's time but
the cutting, pasting, editing, and storyline
perfection can stretch out into another three
months for someone who does nothing but
write and desires to put out an excellent
product. Sometimes, you need to kick that can
around all to pick it up another day when your
mindset has another day's focus.
7. What do you want people to know most about
your writing style?
My writing stems from realistic experiences and
oftentimes is based on a true story or segments
of a true story. My writing will always have a
message within the entertainment boundaries. I
want to write the best quality product that can
both tell a story, inspire a higher standard, and
educate my brothers and sisters to this
phenomena known as relationships.
8. How do you feel about fellow authors?
I have a genuine love for authors and I believe
that there is a reading niche for the variety of
writing styles that exist. I refuse to hate on my
fellow authors of all genres like you see some
rap artists hating on each other within that
arena. I want to be a bridge, a backbone, a
support structure to help other authors perfect
their craft. My focus transcends the traditional
motivational variables. I want to form a strong
network of
authors so that we can support one another
and use that support as a conviction to deliver
the greatest quality product to society.
9. How do you feel about African American
customers, since your writing will get out the
gate via that avenue?
I think African American customers are very
loyal to you once you have proven your craft
worthy of purchase. I am on a serious campaign
to return African American customers back to
purchasing from African American booksellers
and authors. Statistics have proven that the
African American community alone is a very
powerful and lucrative force. Take for instance
the latest Grammy Awards: I noticed that
commercials were targeted to our community
on networks like BET, MTV, and VH-1 and even
the major network that it aired from. Notice that
the commercial consisted of advertising Kanye
West and Jamie Fox. Why? Because
mainstream knows that Caucasian
representatives would be in full force but the
targeted marketing strategy was towards the
African American community. We are a very
powerful force if we can come together
collectively. Please, let's support our African
American authors and bookstores. It may be
cheaper to purchase from global outlets but if
we invest in our own, we will eventually produce
our own global outlets.
INTERVIEW
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