Today we talk about Rough Drafts of a Suicide Note, a book by J. Pharoah Doss published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author J. Pharoah Doss to get to know him better, if there was a particular moment that brought him to the writing of his book Rough Drafts of a Suicide Note, as well as the characteristics the audience should have to appreciate his book.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Is there a particular moment in your life that led you to the writing of your book? What was that?
It’s a collection of moments. A few years ago, US Today published an article stating that the suicide rate among black American youngsters surpassed that of their white counterparts for the first time in American history. I discussed the black suicide rate in my weekly column for the New Pittsburgh Courier. I saw the US Today article as a warning comparable to the Moynihan Report, which warned about the decline of black traditional families in the 1960s. Writing my column triggered a memory from my high school. One morning, the school principal made an announcement that a student had committed suicide. I was used to hearing about peers getting shot and killed, but this was my first encounter with suicide. I didn’t know the student. He was two grades down, which made it more tragic. During that day, I overheard bits about his life, but his final act remained a mystery. Rough Drafts of a Suicide Note was an exploration into that mystery.
- What characteristics your audience should have to appreciate your book?
Open-mindedness and patience. Due to the book’s unconventional style, an open mind is required. Because we live in a fast-paced society, many people believe that a tale is moving too slowly when, in fact, it just moves at its own pace; patience solves this problem.
- What messages did you want to convey with your book?
A well-known writer once stated, “Artists cannot be ministers. As soon as they attempt it, they destroy their artistry.” Because my father was a preacher, “message” and “sermon” were always synonymous to me. That’s why that quote became a rule of thumb. However, the book contains many messages. The reader must discover them.
- How would you describe your writing style?
You may call my writing minimalist and experimental. Literature is the only art form in which the artist must have the audience’s full attention. One can talk on the phone while examining a painting or exercise while listening to music. On the other hand, the writer, anticipating the readers’ full engagement, has a responsibility to avoid wasting their time. My writing style can also be called experimental since I enjoy finding novel methods to tell a story—not only from a unique perspective but also in a unique form.
- Are you working on a new writing project?
I’m working on another book called No Father’s Day Cards. It tells the story of a man who grew up in the shadow of a strong father figure but has to grapple with his own failures as a father. Unlike Rough Drafts of a Suicide Note, this project is not a poetic novella. It’s what I call a graphic volume of poetry. A graphic volume of poetry depicts drama through flash fiction, free verse, and illustrated scenes. The illustrated scenes aim to provide the reader a visual experience similar to a movie, while the text reads like a novel.
Europe Books thanks the author J. Pharoah Doss once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book Rough Drafts of a Suicide Note. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my dear reader, may this book engage you, capture your curiosity and amuse you. The author says “there are many messages“ you can intercept while reading the book. Therefore have fun discovering them and make them food for thought for your everyday life!
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!