Urban Reviews:  Can you tell us about your debut novel Baptism By Fire?
Michael Stanton:  Baptism By Fire Part I: Empire is the first installment of a six book series based on the legacy of Don Starchild. It goes deep into the mind, heart and soul of a man going through many trials and tribulations in life as he strives to make things right for himself and family.  It speaks of life’s convictions and how any man can find himself caught in the maze of destruction with nowhere to turn, until he looks deep into his soul for the most needed answers to save himself from an eternal death.

Urban Reviews:  How did you come up with the idea for this novel?
Michael Stanton:  The concepts of this novel are like déjà vu for me. I believe a good book can only be born out of one’s experiences. I didn’t start this book for the sake of being published. It was basically for therapeutic reasons than anything else. I had a story inside of me and I had to tell it, even if no one read it.

Urban Reviews:  The term ‘baptism by fire’ is defined as a “very difficult first experience of something.”  Did you find that to be true about writing this novel?
Michael Stanton:  The term 'Baptism By Fire' is a metaphor of life’s fire waiting to consume anyone who falls into its trap. As we know many who are righteous are Baptized by water and are cleansed of all sins but what about the sinners who suffer from their own iniquity and can only be purified through life’s fire? I wrote this book because I had nearly suffered an identical fate and the fire rendered all impurities from my mind, heart and soul and I am now a justified man who has changed drastically.

Urban Reviews:  What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced being a new author?  What are you doing to overcome it?
Michael Stanton:  My biggest challenge has been to just get people to read my book because I am not yet known. Once someone voluntarily climbs into the inner regions of my intelligence, he or she will come to thoroughly appreciate what I have to offer. I write with a profound skill that escapes many authors who receive top billing in this game, just because they started before me. I have been in the game for awhile, but I just didn’t want to put anything out unless it was as close to perfection as I could get it. The only way for me to overcome this is just to keep doing what I do and pray one day people will come to recognize me as an undiscovered force.

Urban Reviews:  Are there any authors who you look up to in the book business?
Michael Stanton:  I am an avid reader of many authors. I read authors like Tony Morrison, Terry McMillan, Dan Brown, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Stephen King and Sidney Sheldon. The list goes on but these are the core of the ones I have learned a lot from by studying their works.

Urban Reviews:  You also have another book titled Promise. Can you tell us a little about this novel?
Michael Stanton:  Promise is about a young pimp who strives to thoroughly understand the rules of the game. He has a mentor named Silk who gives him the instructions and guidance to better execute the game to a profitable success and supersede many who have been in the game long before him. This is one of the best intellectual pieces to enter the market, and it is far different from the other books that come into the market because you can’t fake this and the esoteric knowledge I expel into this work of art is timeless. It does not come out until 2009, but it can be purchased from Starchild Publishing. I had to release something for those who will enjoy Baptism By Fire and will be thirsty for something else written by me.

Urban Reviews:  What are your expectations and goals as a writer? Do you have any ideas for future projects?
Michael Stanton:  My expectations as a writer are to just keep writing because it is my gift. It is something I am willing to do for free, but now I have learned how to get paid for it. When I was living the street life, it was my passion. But passions have limitations and take entirely too much effort to continue to do on a daily basis; not counting the risks involved. Writing is a gift I can do with minimal effort.

I have many projects just waiting to be released. I have written a total of 30 novels as of this date, and I continue to add to my repertoire at a rapid pace. I write 8 to 10 hours a day everyday. I seem to be prolific at writing, and my plots and ideas come from the life circumstances I have suffered and overcame or the lives of friends and foes alike. I can only release these titles after I have been properly received by my targeted audience.

Urban Reviews:  What do you like to do when you are not writing or promoting your book?
Michael Stanton:  When I am not writing, I am reading or working out. I love to cook, run and watch movies. I have a passion for the piano and writing songs based on what I am feeling but it is only a passion and not my gift. I enjoy healthy conversations.

Urban Reviews:  In regards to your debut novel, can you name anything you would go back and change or do differently?
Michael Stanton:  I do not ready my books once they are published. That is a dangerous area for any artists who strive for absolute perfection because they will always be able to manifest new concepts and phrases to make their work better. When I feel it is done, I have to move on because I will never be able to get it published if I continue to tweak it to perfection.

Just as a parent’s responsibilities do not end with giving birth, an author’s do not end with publication. The child must be raised and the book must be promoted. Instead of reading the book and ending up rewriting the entire book, I try to exert my energy to the next phase of my creativity which is promotion. I will be changing the cover on the next print and anyone who orders the book will also receive a FREE soundtrack of Baptism By Fire and get a glimpse of the new cover. They will also get a FREE soundtrack to Promise when they order the book directly from Starchild Publishing.

Urban Reviews:  At the end of the day what do you want people to know most about you?
Michael Stanton:  This is a hard question because I am always seeking new ways to grow and overcome obstacles in my path. I would say I am passionate about my gift as a writer. I love my family and all those who love me. I make sure to give my all in anything I do or I won’t do it at all. I just love life and this space in my life God has placed me in. I am finally at peace with just being me and coming into my own. I strive to now be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem. Also, I would like to hear from any and everyone who finds his or her way into the matrix of my mind.