Urban Reviews: Tell our
readers about The Ruthless Dictator.
Rumont Tekay: The Ruthless Dictator
is about loyalty, betrayal, passion, and unyielding
influences.
Urban Reviews: Where did
you come up with idea for this novel?
Rumont Tekay: Physically, I was entering
the fifth year of my incarceration and in segregation, alone
with four walls that seemed to close in more with each hour
that passed. Mentally, I was exhausted from the life that I
lived up until that point. I was ready to make a change, think
outside the box and do something different. I thought about my
son, younger brother, and a host of cousins that I left
behind. I realized just how vulnerable they were to the inner
city of Chicago and I wanted to reach out to them in a way
that would grasp their attention. And the conception of The
Ruthless Dictator was born, May 2000.
Urban Reviews: What are your
goals as a writer?
Rumont Tekay: There are many gifted
writers out there that aren’t being heard. Poets, novelists,
non-fiction writers, etc.. I want to give others who share the
passion for storytelling a plateau to showcase their works.
Urban Reviews: What
things did you do to prepare yourself for the release of your
debut novel?
Rumont Tekay: Well, with the limited
resources that I had while incarcerated. I did what I could to
educate myself with the publishing game, via self-help books.
And I did a lot of rewrites. I also corresponded with authors,
such as, Wahida Clark, Victor L. Martin, etc., who were very
instrumental in the development of Murray Park Publishing.
Urban Reviews: What was
the biggest obstacle that you had to overcome with publishing
your book?
Rumont Tekay: Getting out of the pen was
foremost. Belief in myself no matter what, and surrounding
myself around the right people.
Urban Reviews: If there
was one thing you could do differently, what would it be?
Rumont Tekay: I would change the fact
that my son was without his father for the first 12 years of
his life.
Urban Reviews: Do you
have any planned projects for the future?
Rumont Tekay: Victor L. Martin and myself
are working on an anthology together. The Ruthless Dictator
does have a sequel, so be on the look out for that. And I’m
looking to sign my first author within the next year. So if
anyone out there believe that they have what it takes to
become a part of the Murray Park Publishing team, then contact
me.
Urban Reviews: Are there any
authors that inspired you to want to be a writer?
Rumont Tekay: Mos Def! Victor L. Martin,
Wahida Clark, and Nathan McCall.
Urban Reviews: What's the
best advice you've gotten from someone in the literary
industry?
Rumont Tekay: "Pay attention to the
numbers, in regards to sells, inventory, etc.. Be thorough!" –
Nakea Murray
Urban Reviews: Is there
anything else you would like to share about yourself or your
novel?
Rumont Tekay: Through it all, I’ve
learned that hope never dies just as long as I breathe life
into it. |
