The Library Mistress welcomes lazarusInfinity, author of the new book Exodus: A Requiem for Jacob Forlorn
Finding the Inspiration to Write
For me, writing has always been a fairly easy process from start to finish. Whether I’m working on a novel, short story or screenplay, finding inspiration has always been a pretty effortless job. However, much like everyone else, I do have several areas to channel my creative energies and find the inspiration needed to keep going.
I started writing as a kid back in the 3rd grade. Being one of those high achieving, nerdy types, I was always one of the kids who finished their work first, got bored and wrote short stories. Back then I was a huge fan of superheroes, classic movies and television shows. Anything involving Sidney Poitier, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney or Alfred Hitchcock was huge in the house. Before long, I was writing short stories dealing with everything from imaginary superheroes to murder mysteries and detective stories…even at a very young age. Being born and raised in New Orleans comes with a ton of advantages for inspiration, especially with writers. A beloved international city, New Orleans is rich with history, a diverse culture along with a seemingly endless canon of legends, ghost stories and folklore. Anyone who’s ever taken a ghost tour or just gone sightseeing along St. Charles Ave. or through one of the many above ground cemeteries will vouch for the fact that New Orleans is virtually an artist’s paradise. Literary and artistic giants from Tennessee Williams to Anne Rice and Truman Capote have all made a name for themselves, taking in the vibes and colorful landscape that is ‘The Crescent City’.
As the years progressed, my growing passion for writing drew inspiration from a number of amazing talents. Playwrights such as August Wilson and Arthur Miller inspired me with their powerful and almost lyrical structure and dialogue. Spike Lee taught me the breathtaking power of using colorful imagery and pacing to deliver though-provoking messages. Adding to the list is a who’s who of talents, from such directors as Charlie Chaplin, Bernardo Bertolucci and Roberto Benigni to great writers such as James Baldwin, Langston Hughes and Stephen King.
The years have given me a wealth of avenues to draw inspiration for writing, and those avenues are growing each and every day. Like most authors, I’ve had moments where I stumble with procrastination and writer’s block. Fortunately, my muse has always come in many forms, inspiring me to get back in front of the computer screen and create thoughtful, complex and insightful work that hopefully readers will enjoy. For fans of music and cinema, here’s a small sampling of what inspires me during those long days of writing. Hopefully it will do the same for you.
FILMS
The Great Dictator-Charlie Chaplin
Do The Right Thing-Spike Lee
Malcolm X-Spike Lee
The Dreamers-Bernardo Bertolucci
Im Juli-Faith Akin
Rear Window-Alfred Hitchcock
Le Diner de Cons-Francis Veber
The Usual Suspects-Bryan Singer
The Godfather-Francis Ford Coppola
Amelie-Jean Pierre-Juenet
La Dolce Vita-Frederico Fellini
Life Is Beautiful-Roberto Benigni
Rashomon-Akira Kurosawa
Angel Heart-Alan Parker
Rocky-Sylvester Stallone
BOOKS
The 48 Laws of Power-Robert Greene
Physics of the Impossible-Dr. Michio Kaku
Physics of the Future-Dr. Michio Kaku
Invisible Man-Ralph Ellison
The Four Agreements-Don Miguel Ruiz
The Autobiography of Malcolm X-Alex Haley
It-Stephen King
On Writing-Stephen King
The Piano Lesson-August Wilson
The Crucible-Arthur Miller
Angels & Demons-Dan Brown
Jack & Jill-James Patterson
MUSIC PLAYLIST
Just Friends-Amy Winehouse/Back to Black
Jimi Hendrix-Third Stone From the Sun/Are You Experienced?
Copernicus Landing-Kid Cudi/SATELLITE FLIGHT: Journey to Mother Moon
Without You-Lapalux
Represent-Nas/Illmatic
Cherry Wine-Nas feat. Amy Winehouse/Life Is Good
Nirvana-You Know You’re Right/Nirvana
In My Head-Psapp/Early Cats and Tracks
Solar-Thunderball/Hotel Costes 4
No Jive-De Phazz/Hotel Costes Vol. 1
Gutter Rainbows-Talib Kweli/Gutter Rainbows
Black Boy Fly-Kendrick Lamar/Good Kid Maad City
Si je meurs ci soir-MC Solaar/Cinquieme as
Memories Live-Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek/Reflection Eternal-Train of Thought
The Blast-Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek/Reflection Eternal-Train of Thought
The Heretics-Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross/The Girl w/The Dragon Tattoo Sdtrk.
Don’t Explain-Billie Holiday/Verve Remixed
Blood-Velvet Acid Christ/Lust for Blood
Come Together-The Beatles/Abbey Road
House of the Rising Sun-The Animals/Retrospective
Glad to be Unhappy (DJ Logic Remix)-Billie Holiday/Remixed & Reimagined
Me & The Devil-Gil Scott-Heron/I’m New Here
Slip and Slide (Suicide)-Kosheen/Resist
Shiny on the Inside-Leona Naess/Thirteens
Let Go-Frou Frou/Details
When the Levee Breaks-Led Zeppelin/Mothership
Communication Breakdown-Led Zeppelin/Mothership
Kashmir-Led Zeppelin/Mothership
A New World in My View/King Britt & Sis. Gertrude Morgan
About the Author
"Just keep writing." Out of those simple words grew a dream that would instill a profound sense of purpose within a young kid born and raised in New Orleans, LA. With only his dreams along with an insatiable drive to be the best he could be, this writer would grow from penning children's literature in the 3rd grade to later writing stageplays and screenplays in college. Heavily influenced by a who's who of incredible writers from Langston Hughes, Claude McKay and Ralph Ellison all the way to August Wilson, Arthur Miller and Aaron Sorkin, lazarusInfinity has continued to stretch his creative boundaries to encompass all forms of writing. In addition to writing contemporary fiction and children's stories, he is currently at work on several screenplays along with another novel.
Check out his new book!
Welcome to the dark side of love...
A dark fantasy filled with interracial romance, lust, betrayal and vengeance. What happens when everything you've worked for and sacrificed for is suddenly taken away from you? What happens when the greatest love you've ever known isn't what it seems? What happens when your most loyal childhood friends and family pass away? What happens when one man takes a fateful journey between love and hate, light and darkness...Heaven and Hell?
Jacob Forlorn is a beleaguered everyman escaping from the shadows of a bitter and broken past to find his place in life when he meets Miranda, a beautiful and mysterious woman with a past of her own. Drawn by love at first sight, a whirlwind interracial romance brimming with intense passion ensues, culminating in the birth of a beautiful child. But all is not well in paradise. Against the remains of a hidden past, something dark and deadly emerges, threatening to either warn Jacob or rob him of both his heart and his sanity. Jealousy, resentment and deception emerge, soon forming a deadly web of intrigue, lust and secrecy which all have repercussions far beyond anything he ever imagined.
As dark visions and nightmares haunt him repeatedly, Jacob soon begins to walk a very fine line between right and wrong, against a backdrop of misery and death that pushes him to the limits of his faith in God. Someone...or something is after him. The secrets of the past begin to destroy him both physically and spiritually, forcing him to make a dangerous choice.
Love. Lust. Betrayal. Vengeance. It all comes to an end and something has to give. The journey to Hell and back has now begun in this brooding and haunting dark fantasy.
**The sequel to EXODUS, REVELATION: THE RETURN OF JACOB FORLORN is also now available at all major retailers.
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