Clarence Nero talks about his new release, Three Sides To Every Story

Interview by CJ Domino

Q&A

Tell us about your upcoming book; Three Sides To Every Story.

I’ve been writing about New Orleans’ Ninth Ward community for many years trying to bring awareness to some of the issues the poor people face in the Ninth Ward area of the city. My first novel, “Cheekie: A Child out of the Desire” came out in April 1998. It was about a boy coming of age in the Desire Housing Project during the 1970’s. It’s really about his mother trying to raise sons in the hood with all the odds stacked against her. So, this story is very personal for me. I’m a third generation Ninth Ward resident. My entire family came from this community.

Now, my new novel, “Three Sides To Every Story” that releases in October of this year is also set in the Ninth Ward community, pre-Hurricane Katrina times. I actually started writing this novel three years before Katrina and it takes up with a very taboo subject matter in the black community: homosexuality and the drama surrounding the down-low. While I was in the midst of writing “Three Sides” everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Essence Magazine was talking about the down-low and reporting statistics about the rise in HIV rates among African American women. With my novel, I was concerned less with creating a frenzy among black women, but telling a story that goes deeper into the reasons that men, and some women for that matter, feel a need to hide their sexuality. Because I believe at the root of the down-low is homophobia in our society. Until we start loving people unconditionally and allowing them to be themselves without judgment and condemnation, we will continue to have men and women on the down-low. So, I just wanted to put that information out there upfront, so my intentions are clear.

“Three Sides To Every Story” is a love triangle involving Johnny, Tonya, and James. Johnny, whose this bad boy type, comes from a strict religious home. In fact, his father is a minister of a mega church in New Orleans. Although Johnny was brought up in the church with both a caring father and mother, he’s drawn to the streets. At one point, he’s even dealing drugs with his gangster, cousin, Kojack. No doubt, Johnny is a troubled young man hiding a very deep secret from his family and girlfriend, Tonya--his high school sweetheart. Although Johnny genuinely adores Tonya, he can’t shake these feelings inside of him for other dudes. One night, in a bizarre incident, Johnny beats the crap out of one of Tonya’s ex-boyfriends and ends up in prison for a couple of years. While in prison, he meets the openly gay and flamboyant James. They strike up an immediate friendship--James helps tutor Johnny for his GED. But after a short while, the sexually repressed Johnny gets involved with James on an intimate level. The two men fall in love behind bars, but their romance is cut short when James is released on early parole. A year later, Johnny comes home where both James and Tonya are waiting for him.

The story is narrated from Johnny‘s, Tonya‘s, and James’s point-of-views, as each one of them have different yet unique stories about what really happened once Johnny came home from prison. But what’s even more interesting, although these three characters are caught in this love triangle, they still have individual stories that bring up other issues that young people are dealing with today. For example, while Johnny is in prison, Tonya ends up stripping in a night club. She’s a young woman who has had a lot of tragedy in her family, seeing her older brother get “shot down on the streets like an animal.” On top of that, she has a tumultuous relationship with her mother, as well. Like most youngsters today, she’s drawn to the fast life of money and glamour. Tonya meets this rapper and begins a career of dancing in music videos. With this particular storyline, I’m trying to bring awareness to the state of our young girls and the length some of them will go in order to be with a celebrity. Although I’m a fan of Hip-Hop, some of the images in music videos is leading our young women and men in the wrong direction. Tonya ends up in a very bad predicament. I think a lot of women are going to be surprised how I spin the down-low twist in my novel. In fact, some women who have read advance copies of the novel were completely blown away.

Where does the inspiration for your stories come from?

Sometimes from personal experiences like with my first novel “Cheekie” that’s loosely based on my childhood growing up in the Desire Project. And at other times, the story line just hits me from out of nowhere. I can be driving in my car and these characters start speaking to me in my head. I’m also inspired to write about some of the issues that I see going on in the black community, because I love my people so much and I want to see them do better.  So, I’m not only trying to entertain my readers, but educate, inspire, and uplift them at the same time. I always have a bigger purpose when I put the pen to paper.

You are originally from New Orleans. Can you share with us how Hurricane Katrina impacted you and your family?

First, I would like to extend words of comfort to the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast whose lives were interrupted, homes destroyed, and in some cases communities completely wiped out. To you, I say hold on and keep the faith. I’m also a Hurricane Katrina Survivor. My entire family lost everything and has been displaced to different parts of the United States. I know from firsthand experience what the people of New Orleans and surrounding communities are going through. It’s really sad how the government left the poor citizens for days to fend for themselves during one of the worst tragedies in our nation‘s history. These were tax-paying, American citizens, not refugees as they’ve been called. But I shouldn’t be surprised. They’ve been leaving poor black people behind for years. I’m sorry for going on, but I just get so worked up when I think about growing up in New Orleans and seeing the poverty, violence, and decay. In the preface of my new novel, I share with readers that I lost two brothers to senseless violence on the streets of New Orleans and a close female cousin to AIDS. Long before Katrina, New Orleans was in serious trouble, and the storm only highlighted the problems.

So, to answer your question, it’s been hard from the very beginning. Most of my family resided in the hardest hit areas. But material things we can replace. It’s the memories and the history that we miss. Moreover, I miss being able to go across town to visit my favorite aunt. Now, she lives in Atlanta. I’m in Baton Rouge. I now have to drive eight hours just to visit with her. Some of my other family members live in Texas. The separation is killing us. We haven’t seen such a large fragmentation of our people like this since the days of slavery. I could only imagine the long term effects this hurricane will have on us. My mom came home to New Orleans for a couple of months, but returned back to Texas. She said New Orleans just isn’t the same without her family being there. One good thing though was that we got together for Christmas and Thanksgiving last year, and it was the best holiday season ever! Everyone was just grateful to be alive and well. Some families weren’t so lucky, you know.

Will you ever return to New Orleans to live?

Maybe, if the situation there improves, I can see myself going back home. First and foremost though, they need to make sure the levees are stronger to withstand larger storms. And then they have to make vast improvements in the city in terms of better schools, safer streets for our kids, etc. There needs to be a more balanced New Orleans where not only the wealthy and middle class folks are living the American dream, but also the poor and working class.

You changed careers. Can you share with us why you became a writer?

The funny thing is, I never imagined myself being a writer at all. I always thought I would become a doctor. Everyone from family to teachers convinced me that I was smart enough to become a doctor, anyway. While a student at Howard University, I realized early on that I just didn’t have the passion for medicine. It sounded good in theory. You know the idea of having M.D. behind my name and making big bucks. But my heart just wasn’t into it. So, instead of going to medical school, I used my chemistry degree and took a job working in the forensic department of the D.C. government--another career move that I totally wasn’t into. But I had to pay the bills, so I did what I had to do. However, I was always searching and thinking and trying to figure out what’s next for me. In my heart of hearts, I knew chemistry wasn’t it.

Then, one day I’m reading this article in the newspaper about this woman--black woman--whose writing books and making a killing at it. It was the first time I heard the name, Terry McMillan. My life was forever changed. I went out and brought her first novel entitled, “Mama”--one of my favorite books by Terry. That novel was so deep and the protagonist reminded me of my own mother. Right then and there, a light came on inside of me and something told me to go and write my story. I took out a pad and pen, and as they say, the rest is history. “Cheekie,” my first novel was born.

One evening after work, I stopped at my favorite Chinese restaurant. My fortune cookie said, “You are a lover of words. Someday you will write a book.” I took it a sign from God that I was on the right path.  And I’ve never stopped writing. I write fiction, poetry, nonfiction. Just about everything; even screenplays.

How does it feel to have your writing endorsed by Maya Angelou?

Ecstatic, of course! Sometimes, I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. Dr. Maya Angelou is my literary shero. I can hardly put into words what this woman means to me. Back in December of last year, she invited me to an event at the Baton Rouge Community College to come and hear her speak. We’re back stage in her dressing room with the Chancellor of the College and other big time folk. And the Chancellor wanted to know who I was. Why was I hanging out in Maya Angelou’s dressing room. And Dr. Angelou says, “That’s Clarence Nero. You’re in the midst of a great writer.” And I’m looking around the room and wondering who she’s talking about! I’m trying to see if James Baldwin or Langston Hughes or Zora Neale Hurston suddenly appeared from the dead! Needless to say, it was a moment I would never soon forget. It’s truly a humbling experience for me to have someone at that level supporting me. Dr. Angelou is our history--the original mother of Literature.  I went home that night with a smile on my face. And when I said my prayers, I thanked God. In November, Dr. Angelou is hosting a book signing for me in her hometown of Winston, Salem. It just doesn’t get any better than that, you know.

If we could take a peek at your book shelf which titles would we find and why?

Oh, God. You’ll find just about every black writer, living or dead: Alice Walker, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Ernest Gaines, Zora Neale Hurston, Terry McMillan, Pearl Cleage, E. Lynn Harris, Michael Baisden, Omar Tyree, Keith Boykin, Sister Souljah, Kim Lawson Roby, Eric Jerome Dickey, and the list just goes on and on. Although I’m a writer, I’m such a huge fan of writers. I was recently at a book club conference in Atlanta with all of these big writers like Eric Jerome Dickey, Pearl Cleage, and Terry McMillan. And I’m taking pictures with them and standing in line to get my book signed just like everybody else. I must have hugged and told Terry McMillan how much I loved her about twenty times!

If you had one wish as a writer what would it be? 

You mean besides hoping that Oprah Winfrey would call me up to say how much she enjoyed my book?! I think that’s just about every writers dream though. But I also hope that everyone who reads my work will walk away inspired and expanded in some way. I want us to treat each other better and work together to solve our common interests.

What advice would you give to up and coming writers?

First, I would tell them to write the story that’s inside their heart. Don’t worry about what’s popular or what’s selling at the moment. Be true to yourself and everything will work out the way it’s supposed to. Second, I will tell them not to rush the creative process. It took five drafts before I got to the right one for “Three Sides To Every Story.” Be patient. Take your time. Make sure your story is rock, solid tight before introducing it to the world. Some writers today are rushing to put out work that’s just not ready. If that means you have to go back to school and take some writing classes to improve your craft, then so be it. I started out in chemistry and therefore had a lot to learn about the writing process. I went back to school. I’m actually finishing up my MFA in Creative Writing at LSU this semester.

C. J. Domino is a freelance writer and the author of the upcoming novel, Outta Control.

Contact her at CJDomino@b-now.com