Sit Down With C.J.

Author interview- Dedan Tolbert

By C.J. Domino

The advice columnist for several publications and the founder and CEO of Tolbert Books and Distribution, 29 year old Dedan Tolbert is also the author of the best selling novel, “The Love We Had  Tolbert took a moment from his promotional book tour to sit down with B-Now contributing writer, C. J. Domino for an exclusive interview. 

 What makes Dedan Tolbert unique?

One of the main things that make me, as well as my writing unique is the fact that I always try to keep everything as real as possible. One of the reasons why readers are drawn to “The Love We Had…” is because the characters are realistic and relatable.  You’ll find that I don’t give the reader what they think they want to read; instead, I give them what they need. There are chapters where you will love the main character Derrick, but others where you can’t stand him, which isn’t common in many novels out today.

What was your inspiration for writing The Love We Had?

“The Love We Had…” is loosely based on my life experiences from college. The main characters Derrick and Maya share a love that many couples dream of having.  Throughout my life I’ve known a lot of people who longed to be in love, so I wanted to write a novel that people of all ages could relate to.

What is/was your proudest moment as a writer?

My proudest moment, as a writer, came a few weeks ago when one of my readers emailed me and asked me to please call her daughter who was in the hospital and suffering from a terminal illness.  Her daughter is bedridden, so she spends most of her time reading or watching television. I called and she informed me that she’s read hundreds of books but my novel was her all time favorite and she can’t wait to read the next one. That really touched me and if I never sell another book, I’ll be content knowing I had that great of an effect on someone.

4.  What are some of your personal pro's and con's of being a self-published author?

Being a self-published author is good because it really gave me the opportunity to learn about the industry. When you’re self published, you have to do everything yourself. You’re the one making the phone calls, networking, promoting, selling etc. I think I appreciate every sale a lot more because I’m self published and I’ve put in a lot of time and effort into making my dream a reality. Being self-published also gives you a better opportunity of having your novel picked up by a large publishing company because it gives you the opportunity to sell and market it yourself to test the waters, so to speak. If you can sell 2,000 copies of your novel on your own, imagine what a large publishing company could do with your work.  On the downside, one of the negative aspects of being self-published is that all of the work that’s required can be so time consuming. It often engulfs you and doesn’t leave much time for a social life.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

My advice for young, aspiring authors would be to keep writing. Never stop or allow yourself to get sidetracked. Always set aside some time everyday to devote to your writing…even if its 6:00a.m. Just get the novel finished because once it’s done, there are many different avenues that you can take to get your work published.

What can we expect from Dedan Tolbert in 2007?

I’m currently working on my second novel, “Never Make a Promise” which will be a prequel to “The Love We Had…”  It focuses on Derricks pledge process into his fraternity. If you’ve ever wanted to know what goes on behind the closed doors of a frat, this book will be a must read. My third novel, “Beauty” is the sequel to “The Love We Had…,” one year later.  I’ll continue writing my popular “Ask Dedan” advice column as well as freelance articles on dating and relationships for different magazines.   

For additional information on Dedan Tolbert visit www.dedantolbert.com.  C. J. Domino is a freelance writer living in the Baton Rouge area.  You can visit her online at www.myspace.com/coloredgirl